NFL Coronavirus: Ravens’ training interrupted by league at the last minute, preparation for Steelers evolving, compared

The saga continues for the Baltimore Ravens in their battle against an internal COVID-19 outbreak. The NFL had previously postponed the Ravens’ planned initial battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers from Thanksgiving night until Sunday, November 29, only to see Baltimore deliver further positive tests which led to a second postponement – both sides should finally be face Tuesday. The Ravens’ facility was scheduled to reopen on Monday, but the team arrived Sunday night to begin voluntary conditioning for the game, in preparation for training Monday morning, and arrived to do so before the NFL threw a wrench at wheel in these shots. .

At 9:25 a.m.ET, the league reportedly called the Ravens and canceled their visit and sent word that they would be allowed to have it no earlier than Monday afternoon – by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The additional problem with the move is that the Ravens were potentially hoping to fly to Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon, but that seems extremely unlikely now. As it stands, the fight scheduled for Tuesday is unchanged, despite both Ravens delivering additional positive tests on a seemingly daily basis and testing stopping on Monday.

All in all, it’s not hard to see why some are wondering if the game actually takes place on Tuesday.

Three other Ravens were added to the team’s growing COVID / Reserve roster over the weekend, including linebacker Matthew Judon, tight end Mark Andrews and outgoing Willie Snead. They join reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson and other top names like defensive end Calais Campbell and running back Mark Ingram – the list has exploded in the past few days to 20 players in all. Any postponement of the game against the Steelers will not be due to a shortage of available bodies in Baltimore, as head coach John Harbaugh attempts to prepare Robert Griffin, III and others to step up and fight the unbeaten ( and now quite annoyed) Steelers.

But the Steelers themselves recently placed a key player on the COVID / Reserve list, namely running back James Conner, who joins defensive pillar Stephon Tuitt in quarantine. As both teams feel the effects of the new COVID-19 pandemic – much more the Ravens than the Steelers, however – the practice break enacted in Baltimore on Monday raises a lot of eyebrows on a game that should be played one. day later.