As we near the end of October, COVID-19 is as impactful as ever, and its impact on the NFL is no exception. Multiple postponed games have forced teams to move up their precious bye weeks to recover and control coronavirus outbreaks within their facilities. As of today, fourteen games have been delayed or postponed, with the Titans, Patriots, and my own fantasy football team among the most affected. The Patriots’ outbreak was an interesting situation in that it exposed the biggest obstacle facing the NFL and our public in facing this disease: the incubation period. Despite an apparent following of all NFL protocols, the Patriots were still unable to prevent Cam Newton’s initial coronavirus diagnosis from spreading as a result of the three-day window between the contamination of COVID-19 and a positive test result.
Let’s examine New England’s outbreak in more detail. Cam Newton was seen at a Braintree mall on Tuesday, September 29, taking photos with fans with his mask just below his nose. Assuming this is when he was exposed, and daily coronavirus tests were performed properly by the Patriots’ facility, he tested negative Wednesday and Thursday, before testing positive Friday and learning of the news either late Friday night or early Saturday morning. We also know he ate dinner with fellow Patriot Stephon Gilmore on Friday night, unbeknownst of his positive test result. However, after locking down the facilities upon Newton’s positive test, all other Patriots continued to test negative. The NFL first delayed the Patriots’ scheduled game against the Chiefs from 1:00 p.m. Sunday to 4:25 p.m. before eventually landing on a Monday matinee kickoff. However, shortly after the game, it was revealed that Stephon Gilmore tested positive as well. Further positive tests continued to trickle in throughout the week, which was later declared the Patriots’ updated bye week, and the next game against Denver was postponed.
From this singular example alone, one can easily see how this incubation period, in which a person is contaminated but the spread of the disease is still possible and tests continue to show as negative, results in many scheduling problems and serious situations for people living in high-risk areas. I believe the NFL must continue to ensure that teams are following all protocols and if a player does test positive, facilities should be shut down for at least three days to allow for any incubation period to be fully screened.
In better news, coronavirus cases have declined overall throughout the league and New England has been able to run full practices and games recently. Their underperformance in the past two games due to a lack of significant practice time requires them to find their stride quickly, however. Shortly before the trade deadline, a loss may mean the Patriots look to sell, possibly trading high-salary players such as Gilmore, Marcus Cannon, or Joe Thuney for draft picks. This would put the organization into its first official rebuilding phase since before the Brady era.
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