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Week 8 update: Sanders addressed the positive test on his podcast and indicated he would miss two games, per Luke Johnson. He could return as soon as Week 9.
Friday PM update: Saints head coach Sean Payton told the media Sanders came down with Covid-19 at home and not at the team’s facility, and is experiencing symptoms. However, Payton does not seem to have addressed the fact that Sanders practiced on Thursday. He did say 20 people near Sanders all tested negative, while cornerback Ken Crawley is going on Covid-19 IR due to close contact, per Tom Pelissero.
Sean Payton on Emmanuel Sanders testing positive for COVID-19: Protocols have been outstanding. He got this at home. He knows exactly how he got it, and I'll leave it at that.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) October 23, 2020
Ken Crawley tested negative but since he was exposed to Sanders, he goes on the COVID list, per Payton. Payton also said Sanders has symptoms, wasn't feeling well.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) October 23, 2020
The New Orleans Saints could be incredibly shorthanded at the wide receiver position in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. Michael Thomas has been dealing with a hamstring injury and now Emmanuel Sanders is going on IR due to Covid-19, per Adam Schefter.
There is no initial word whether Sanders tested positive or was in contact with a positive case, but this raises a big question about Sunday’s game. Sanders practiced on Thursday, so whether he tested positive or was exposed to a positive, he was also exposed to teammates.
The Saints will conduct further contact tracing and will continue with daily testing heading into Sunday’s game with the Panthers.