Patrick Mahomes Might Be the Next Victim of COVID-19 After Hugging Stephon Gilmore
COVID-19 cases have been running rampant throughout the NFL over the past few weeks.
First, the Tennessee Titans announced multiple players and staff members tested positive for the virus, which caused their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to be postponed. Then, Cam Newton produced the most high-profile positive test to date.
Most recently, fellow Patriot Stephon Gilmore tested positive two days after playing the Chiefs, which isn’t great news for Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes dapped up Gilmore after the game and gave him a non-socially-distant hug. Could the former MVP be the next victim of the coronavirus in the NFL?
The Chiefs played the Patriots on Monday Night Football
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs matched up against the Cam Newton-less Patriots during a makeshift version of Monday Night Football earlier this week. The game was supposed to be played on Sunday, but Newton’s positive test pushed it back a day to allow the team more time to travel safely.
With Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham handling the quarterback duties, New England had little to no chance of keeping up with the Chiefs’ potent offense. Mahomes led Kansas City to 20 second-half points as they pulled away from the undermanned Pats and eventually won, 26-10.
The Patriots losing their starting QB and falling to 2-2 in the same week wasn’t ideal, but things just got even worse for New England.
Stephon Gilmore tested positive for COVID-19 one day after the game
After Newton tested positive for the coronavirus last week, the Patriots made sure every player on the roster tested negative multiple times before traveling to Kansas City. New England followed every precaution it could in order to play the Chiefs in Week 4.
Although they lost, the Patriots must’ve been ecstatic that they reported no new positive tests after Newton. But that surprisingly changed a day after their latest game.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported Wednesday morning that Patriots All-Pro CB Stephon Gilmore tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, and he’s been placed on the NFL’s Reserve/COVID-19 list.
It’s unknown when Gilmore contracted the virus, but one player should be terrified of the news either way.
Mahomes could be the next victim of COVID-19 after he gave Stephon Gilmore a friendly hug
After the game Monday night, Mahomes and Gilmore embraced near midfield, as the two competitors at the top of their game paid respect to each other.
It’s something that happens regularly after NFL games, but not this season. The NFL banned jersey swapping after games this season, and the league expected teams to follow COVID-19 protocols by not interacting with opposing players as much as possible.
Well, Mahomes had a mental lapse after the Chiefs beat the Patriots, and he ended up hugging the one player on the Patriots who tested positive a day later. With how contagious the coronavirus is, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former MVP produce the league’s next positive test at some point this week. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen.
