NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans won’t be back inside their building until Saturday at the earliest because of eight positive tests for the coronavirus, the first outbreak to hit the NFL this season as it tries to play a full schedule amid the pandemic.
Tennessee is scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in a matchup of two of the league’s seven remaining undefeated teams entering the fourth week of the season, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his team has been “given a mandate” to prepare as if the game will be played on time – even if the Titans are unable to practice.
“We’re going to trust the medical experts,” Tomlin said. “If they deem it safe for us to proceed, we’re going to go down there with the intention of playing and playing to win.”
Tennessee suspended in-person activities through Friday after the NFL said three players and five team personnel tested positive for the coronavirus. The NFL had played three weeks without a COVID-19 outbreak. Now the Titans are facing the first significant in-season test of the league’s health and safety protocol.
The Minnesota Vikings also suspended in-person activities Tuesday because of the Titans’ test results. The Titans beat the Vikings 31-30 in Minneapolis on Sunday.