Patriots Left Holding Their Breath After Cam Newton’s Positive COVID-19 Test
When it was announced Saturday that Cam Newton tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), the NFL was, again, left scrambling. The team was set to fly out Saturday for its late-afternoon Sunday game with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The league has already postponed Sunday’s game and another game involving the Tennessee Titans, who have several confirmed cases. Now the Patriots and the rest of the league have to be holding their collective breaths for the next round of test results.
Cam Newton tests positive for COVID-19
The New England Patriots were dealt a serious blow Saturday morning when it was announced that quarterback Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19. The Patriots were scheduled to make the trip to Kansas City that afternoon. The NFL has now postponed the game with a makeup date, possibly Monday or Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
According to ESPN, Kansas City practice squad player Jordan Ta’amu also tested positive. Ta’amu serves as the Chiefs’ practice squad quarterback and he was playing the role of Newton heading into this weekend’s game. This is the first time the Patriots have had a player test positive for COVID-19, although they had several players opt out of the season because of the virus.
Newton is in his first season with the Patriots. He is having a very good season, accounting for six touchdowns. Newton has rushed for four scores and has passed for two more. He’s been a pleasant surprise since replacing six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.
The NFL is seeing an increase in positive COVID-19 cases
While Cam Newton’s positive diagnosis was the talk of the sports world on Saturday, the Tennessee Titans continued to see their number of positive cases increase. One more Titans player and two other staff members tested positive for the virus on Saturday. The total number of positive cases within the Titans organization now stands at 16, with eight players and eight staffers having been diagnosed with the virus.
The NFL quickly took action with the Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game this weekend. The league did some rearranging of bye weeks and has rescheduled that game for Week 7. The Steelers were scheduled to play a road game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 but that game has been pushed back to Week 8.
The Titans played the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. No Vikings players have tested positive. They are scheduled to travel to Houston to take on the Texans on Sunday.
Patriots now left holding their breath
After hearing quarterback Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19, what’s next for New England? Players, coaches, and staff members will continue to be tested, but can’t help but notice what’s been going on with the Tennessee Titans. Ever since Tennessee linebackers coach Shane Bowen tested positive on Sept. 26, there has been an increase of positive cases within the organization.
According to New England Patriots beat reporter Doug Kyed of New England Sports Network, players are tested in the morning. They don’t get the results of those tests until late that night or the following morning.
That would mean Newton was tested Friday morning, seeing he got his diagnosis either late Friday night or Saturday morning. It would also mean that the quarterback was in the facility practicing all day Friday with the team.
