AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn expects to return to preseason football practice Monday minus 16 players who are sidelined in connection with positive COVID-19 tests.
Coach Gus Malzahn said Sunday night that the Tigers had five positives early in the week and four more after additional testing Thursday. With contact tracing, seven others who had close contact with them face a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
“We had two position groups where we did not have enough guys,” Malzahn said Sunday night, declining to say which positions.
The Tigers haven’t practiced since Tuesday and canceled a planned scrimmage Saturday. Malzahn said players didn’t want to attend meetings Thursday after the police shooting of Jacob Blake four days earlier in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Players who test positive must stay isolated for 10 days followed by a seven-day reacclimation process. Malzahn said players will be tested Sundays and Thursdays.
The Tigers are scheduled to open their season Sept. 26 against Kentucky.