The COVID-19 epidemic wreaked havoc on the Baltimore Ravens last week, and it is said to have affected their best player. Thursday night, Ian Rapoport from the NFL network reported that Ravens defender Lamar Jackson gave a positive result for the coronavirus. The Ravens were scheduled to take over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, but the league was forced to reschedule the match due to the Ravens COVID-19 outbreak. The decision was made with extreme caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and staff on the day of play, and in consultation with medical experts. The game is now scheduled for Sunday at 1:15 p.m. (ET) and will remain on NBC and will be broadcast nationwide.
According to ESPN Adam Schefter, four more Ravens players and one more staff gave a positive result for COVID-19 – which should include Jackson. While the match against the Steelers has been rescheduled for Sunday, his chances of playing it are said to be “rapidly declining”. Several Steelers players on Twitter have expressed dissatisfaction with the league’s decision to originally reschedule the match, and one can only imagine feeling comfortable if the game is moved again.
The Ravens are performing at least a dozen positive COVID-19 tests between players and staff that have been reported, and it was already known that Mark Ingram and JK Dobbins would be left without their first two quarterback defenders if the game was played on Thanksgiving Day. Mike Garafolo, a member of the NFL network reported on Wednesday that the Ravens would also be severely restricted on the offensive line if they actually played on Thursday. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that seven players gave positive results before Thursday, including Pernell McPhee, Trace McSorley, Matt Skura, Patrick Mekari and Calais Campbell.
Baltimore have now lost two smooth games, including a 30-24 defeat in the overtime against the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. That loss fell behind the Cleveland Browns and Steelers to AFC North in third place, and this latest development certainly casts doubt on when they can move on to the next track.
