The Houston Texans have joined the growing list of teams that have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday morning, the Houston Texans public relations Twitter account released a statement regarding a player who had recently tested positive:
We were informed last night that a Texans player has tested positive for COVID-19. In consultation with the NFL and medical experts, we have made the decision to close the facility and conduct all operations virtually today. The player immediately self-isolated and contact tracing has begun. We will follow the NFL's intensive protocols and guidance regarding the team's operations. The health and safety of our team, as well as our entire staff, are of highest priority.
The Texans are scheduled to travel to Jacksonville for a Week 9 matchup against the Jaguars on Sunday.
Two other teams with COVID-19 cases coming down on players — the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers — are still scheduled to play on Thursday night, despite a number of players from both teams needing to be held out due to risk factors. On Wednesday, the 49ers shut down their facility the day before their Week 9 contest.
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was also placed on the COVID-19 list on Wednesday, while seven Baltimore Ravens were placed there on Tuesday. Wednesday also brought the news that Buccaneers defender Will Gholston had been placed on the COVID-19 list. However, in Stafford's and Gholston's cases, they did not test positive.
For all of the above reasons, the NFL competition committee pitched a contingency plan for a 16-team playoff format, in the event that weeks need to be canceled and bye weeks are lost.
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