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Friday AM update: The Falcons appear to be headed back to in-person practice on Friday, according to reporter Jason Butt.
UPDATE: Compared to the early morning report of four Falcons’ personnel testing positive, we’ve slowly been getting revised and better news as the day continues. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets:
It was a #Falcons assistant coach who was confirmed positive for COVID-19 this morning, per source. The team had the option to return to the facility this afternoon, but decided to operate virtually all day as a precaution. Plan is back tomorrow, barring further issues.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 15, 2020
With new and more stringent protocols in use, the chance of a widespread outbreak should have decreased and is should be easier to contact trace and isolate players from infected individuals. We shall see how this turns out, but there is room for some optimism that this game will go on as scheduled.
UPDATE: An NFL spokesperson had this to say about the situation in Atlanta:
From an NFL spokesperson this morning: "The ESPN report was inaccurate. There is one positive today from a team personnel member (not a player). There’s no change in the status of the (#Vikings-Falcons) game at this time."
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) October 15, 2020
UPDATE: Only one member of the Falcons, not a player, has tested positive for Covid-19, per Adam Schefter. This is an upgrade from Schefter’s earlier report of four positive tests. We will still need to wait on a confirmation test and to see if DT Marlon Davidson’s stint on Covid IR is based on contact with an infected person or if he also tested positive. There are many moving parts to this story right now, but the Falcons have shut down their facility for now.
The Atlanta Falcons have received multiple positive Covid-19 tests from their latest round of testing. Yesterday, they added rookie defensive tackle Marlon Davidson to the Covid-19 list and today, the team had four people test positive, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. These latest tests were taken using the newer, quicker and not as reliable method, so they will need to be confirmed. The team is shutting down their facility, per Schefter, and will work remotely for the time being.
The Falcons play the Vikings this Sunday, and depending on the outcome of re-tests, we could again see a game postponed and re-scheduled.