Report: Patriots-Broncos Game Postponed Until Week 6
This week's Patriots-Broncos game will be postponed until next Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The decision to postpone the Week 5 matchup until Week 6 comes after the Patriots reportedly shut their building down Sunday after a positive COVID-19 test. According to Pro Football Talk, Patriots DT Byron Cowart tested positive for COVID-19.
Following reports of the positive test, the NFL announced that Sunday's Pats-Broncos game has been postponed. However, despite the ESPN report, the league has not yet provided specifics on a new date.
"The decision was made to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and personnel and in consultation with medical experts," the NFL said in a statement.
New England was previously scheduled to have its bye week in Week 6. The Broncos-Dolphins game initially scheduled for Week 6 will be rescheduled, per ESPN.
The Patriots are undergoing further testing Sunday morning. According to The MMQB's Albert Breer, New England got word of the positive test late Saturday night. Breer reports the team practiced outside on Saturday with meetings held on a practice field.
"This is the polar opposite of ideal," a Patriots player texted NFL Network's Michael Giardi on Sunday.
On Saturday, veteran Patriots DB Devin McCourty questioned how concerned the NFL is about the impact of COVID-19 on player safety.
"Throughout all of this, [it has been] the realization that it’s not a league-wide thing—it’s kind of a team thing," McCourty said, per The Associated Press. "The people that don’t have to walk in our building, whether it’s the league office, whether it’s the NFLPA—they don’t care.
"For them, it’s not about what’s in our best interest or our health and safety. It’s about what can we make protocol-wise that sounds good, looks good and how can we go out there and play games."
The Patriots had reopened their facility on Saturday following an outbreak within their organization. Earlier this week, Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore tested positive fo COVID-19, which at the time marked the third Patriots player to test positive after QB Cam Newton and practice squad DT Bill Murray.
