The New York Jets canceled practice on Friday after an unidentified player reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, putting Sunday’s Week 5 game against the Arizona Cardinals in jeopardy.
Just a day after the NFL rescheduled multiple games due to new cases of the coronavirus, the Jets could be the latest team with a potential COVID issue.
NFL schedule: Multiple games postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks
New York Jets player tests positive for COVID-19
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets learned this morning that one of their players tested positive for COVID-19. It is a presumptive positive test, which means the organization will treat it like a positive and have the individual undergo a second test for confirmation.
For the time being, the NFL and the Jets will conduct contact tracing to determine which players and coaches came in close contact with the possible carrier of the virus. Anyone deemed to be in close proximity for an extended period of time will be quarantined and tested extensively for COVID-19 over the next few days.
A single positive test doesn’t mean the game will be canceled. New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore tested positive on Wednesday and the team is now scheduled to play on Monday against the Denver Broncos. However, the Patriots have reported zero new cases in the days since, giving them clearance to return.
The timing of this is more problematic for the Cardinals and Jets. Arizona is scheduled to fly to New York on Friday afternoon, a plan that is now uncertain. If the presumptive positive is determined to be a false positive, Sunday’s game would be in the clear.
NFL Week 5: Schedule and game-by-game predictions
If the original results are confirmed, then the NFL will be working against the clock to make the game happen. The league could hypothetically move the game to Monday, where there are already two games scheduled, or Tuesday. It would create more time to test the Jets’ players for the next 48 hours.
For the time being, the Cardinals-Jets game is in some jeopardy. The NFL has already rescheduled five games this season due to positive COVID-19 tests and it seems the issue is worsening as the year goes on.