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It’s a tough day to be a Baltimore Ravens fan after a Sunday loss that may haunt them later into the season, but they may have an even more pressing issue on their hand after reports surfaced Monday of another potential COVID outbreak:
I've heard from multiple sources that the Ravens facility was shut down this morning due to multiple positive COVID tests, including a player. No decisions have been made as of yet but the team is working with the league on what that means regarding Thursday's Thanksgiving game.
— Big Truzz Banks (@BarstoolBanks) November 23, 2020
While there’s no telling who it is that’s tested positive (and most germane to Thursday’s game, which player it is) but this isn’t what you want to hear at any point in the season, much less right now. Baltimore is absolutely reeling after injuries and late-game miscues caused them to drop three of their last four games, and an undefeated Pittsburgh team on a short week isn't what you’d call the best remedy for a struggling squad.
Now add in the potential for a key player (or multiple players) to be missing, and you’d be hard pressed to find a person in the world to pick the Ravens to overcome those circumstances for a win on Thursday night. That is, if the game is even played, which could be up in the air depending on the severity of the outbreak.
We’ll be sure to bring you more as this story continues to unfold, but as of right now, all we know is a terrible Monday just somehow got even worse. Go figure.
UPDATE: 1:10 p.m. ET
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reporting as many as four Ravens personnel/players have tested positive for COVID-19.
I'm told the Ravens may have as many as four positive tests for COVID-19. https://t.co/6Zbt8WRkSf
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) November 23, 2020
It's The Athletic's policy not to name any who have tested positive unless team or league or affected party announces. But I'm told the positive tests (as many as four at this point) were split amongst players and team staff members.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) November 23, 2020
As of now, According to NFL Network’s Tom Pellisero, the Ravens-Steelers matchup is on as scheduled.
As of now, Thursday night's game between the #Ravens and #Steelers remains on as scheduled, per source. Baltimore announced multiple members of the organization tested positive for COVID-19 and contact tracing is underway.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 23, 2020