If you were looking forward to Sunday’s game between the Patriots and Chiefs, you will have to wait a bit longer. New England star QB Cam Newton and Kansas City practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu tested positive for the coronavirus, according to multiple reports.
Both cases come in the same week that saw 16 Titans players and staff members test positive for COVID-19, which led the NFL to postpone Tennessee’s Week 4 game against the Steelers.
According to the New York Post, as of Saturday, no other Patriots players or staff members had tested positive for the virus. However, as was the case with Tennessee, more more positive results may begin to surface.
New England in a statement confirmed one of its players had tested positive, without naming Newton.
“Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19,” the Patriots wrote in a statement. “The player immediately entered self-quarantine. Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received point of care tests this morning and all were negative for COVID-19.”
“We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled trip to Kansas City and game against the Chiefs. The health and safety of our team, as well as our opponent, are of highest priority.”
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The NFL followed with their own statement:
“The New England-Kansas City game scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday will be rescheduled to Monday or Tuesday after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.
In consultation with infectious disease experts, both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate multiple close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments. All decisions will be made with the health and safety of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration.”
Last season as a Carolina Panther, Newton was limited to two games last due to injury.
The 2015 league MVP, signed a one-year, $500,000 guaranteed contract with the Patriots this offseason after Tom Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Newton was moving the chains to making a bid to become NFL Comeback Player of the Year. The 31-year-old has led the Patriots to a 2-1 start, accounting for a total of six touchdowns — including four rushing — while throwing for 714 yards and a career-high 68.1 completion percentage.
As a result of the postponement, Sunday’s game between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears has been moved to 4:25 p.m. EST/PST 3:25 CST, NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo reports.
The game was originally set to be played at 1:00 p.m. ET.
SOURCE: NFL
