Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) drops again to move towards the push of Baltimore Ravens linebacker L.J. Fort (58) throughou
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) drops again to move towards the push of Baltimore Ravens linebacker L.J. Fort (58) throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers sport versus the Baltimore Ravens on November 1, 2020 at M&T Financial institution Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
Mark Goldman | Icon Sportswire | Getty Photographs
For a 3rd time, the Nationwide Soccer League will postpone its Week 12 matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers attributable to Covid-19.
The league acquired new Covid-19 testing outcomes Monday, prompting a postponement to Wednesday, in line with individual acquainted with the matter who requested to stay nameless as a result of they cannot remark publicly on league issues. Based on ESPN, one member of the Ravens did take a look at optimistic for Covid-19 in the newest testing.
On Monday, the league canceled Baltimore’s apply session earlier than the group departed for Pittsburgh. The Ravens and Steelers have been scheduled to play on Thanksgiving Day, however the sport was moved to Sunday. After the NFL recognized further positives from the Ravens, the league moved the sport to Tuesday.
The Ravens revealed optimistic Covid-19 assessments for over 20 members. It is change into the largest outbreak on an NFL group for the reason that Tennessee Titans’ episode, which prompted a Week four postponement towards the Steelers. The Titans have been fined $350,000 for violating protocols that led to the outbreak.
As of Nov. 17, the NFL mentioned 95 gamers and roughly 175 different personnel have examined optimistic for Covid-19. The NFL has already rescheduled greater than a dozen video games attributable to optimistic instances and intensified its security protocols. However regardless of the league’s stricter guidelines, extra postponements could possibly be on the horizon.
The NFL is anticipating to have its most up-to-date testing outcomes again this week, and the concern is a rise in optimistic instances because of the vacation might put Week 13 video games liable to being postponed too.
Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans dives with the ball into the tip zone for a landing within the third quarter of the sport towards the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Financial institution Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Stephen Maturen | Getty Photographs
Time for a bubble?
The NFL is at a crucial level in its season as rescheduling home windows are shortening with extra video games to finish earlier than playoffs begin in January. On a convention name with reporters on Nov. 10, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell additionally reiterated the league’s plans to host its 2021 Tremendous Bowl on time.
The championship sport is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Tampa Bay, and the NFL is planning to permit followers within the stadium at 20% capability.
There have been discussions about shifting to a bubble, however league officers raised psychological well being considerations when discussing the matter publicly.
“That is a big stress level, and I believe now we have to acknowledge that’s simply as a lot of a well being and security consideration as this Covid-19 an infection,” mentioned NFL chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills final month.
However with time working out, the NFL shifting playoff-eligible groups to a number of bubble environments could possibly be on the desk, particularly with extra outbreaks. The transfer would emulate Main League Baseball, which relocated a portion of its postseason and its World Collection to Texas following in-market video games for its 2020 season.