- At least two NFL games for Week 8 are at risk of postponement due to players testing positive for COVID-19.
- The Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos both have players with a positive COVID-19 test in advance of their Sunday matchup.
- The Minnesota Vikings have also had a player test positive for COVID-19 prior to their Sunday game against the Green Bay Packers.
For NFL football betting enthusiasts, weekly COVID-19 outbreaks have become as much a part of handicapping the game as weather forecasts and injury reports. As of Friday evening, there are two games on the schedule for Week 8 that could potentially be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and positive tests of players.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT DENVER BRONCOS
The Los Angeles Chargers were originally scheduled to host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday but that game was rescheduled as part of an earlier COVID-19 postponement. Now the Chargers replacement ‘write in’ game against the Denver Broncos is at risk of postponement after players for both teams have turned in positive COVID-19 tests.
For the Chargers, offensive lineman Ryan Groy has tested positive for COVID-19. His test results came back just before midnight on Wednesday at which point head coach Anthony Lynn decided to cancel practice the following day. Groy had also suffered a bicep injury in a Week 7 game against Jacksonville and was placed on both the COVID-19 reserve list and the injured reserve list. As a result, he’ll miss at least three games.
Offensive lineman Trey Pipkins was also put on the COVID-19 reserve list due to NFL contact tracing protocol. Coach Lynn has said that there’s a chance he could still play depending on how his subsequent testing goes. For now, this is the extent of the Chargers ‘outbreak’ which is a relief for Lynn:
“That’s a credit to the guys. They’ve done the right things for the most part with these protocols — here and away from the facility. That’s why it wasn’t any worse than it was.”
Denver Broncos’ guard Graham Glasgow tested positive on Friday and was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He’s being reported as ‘OUT’ for Sunday’s game with no return timetable. Guard Austin Schlottmann and tackle Demar Dotson are in isolation due to contact tracing guidelines and are listed as ‘QUESTIONABLE’:
The Broncos released a statement about the situation:
“We were informed early this morning that a Broncos player has tested positive for COVID-19. The player is at home in self-isolation along with two other players who were determined to be close contacts. Our organization, which has been operating under the league’s intensive protocols, is in consultation with the NFL and taking guidance from medical experts. As a precaution, we have made the decision to postpone today’s practice and conduct virtual meetings in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Chargers. The team is scheduled to return to UCHealth Training Center for practice tomorrow. The health and safety of the players, coaches and staff will continue to be of the highest priority.”
As of 5:30 PM Pacific on Friday, the game is still scheduled to be played. The Don Best live odds feed sent this notice about the game to clients:
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
Minnesota put Cameron Dantlzer on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week and he’s been ruled OUT for this game. So too has linebacker Todd Davis who was added to the list on Friday.
Reports suggest that Davis has tested positive for COVID-19. There looks to be some conflicting information about Dantlzer’s situation and whether he was added to the list as the result of a positive test or close contact with an infected person. Both players are listed as being ‘out indefinitely’.
As of 5:30 PM Pacific on Friday afternoon the Vikings/Packers game is still scheduled. Like the previous game, Don Best sent their live odds feed clients a ‘heads up’ critical notice about the potential of a postponement:
Based on how the NFL has handled similar situations this season it would likely take additional positive tests for the teams involved to bring about a cancellation.
