The NFL is again kicking the can down the road in hopes of the Ravens’ COVID-19 outbreak coming to a halt before the conclusion of Week 12.
Two days after moving what was originally scheduled to be a Thanksgiving night game between the Ravens and rival Pittsburgh at Heinz Field to Sunday afternoon, the league has shifted the contest to Tuesday night. Entering Friday, Baltimore had at least one player test positive for the virus on five consecutive days after reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and three other players — fullback Patrick Ricard, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, and long snapper Morgan Cox — tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday night.
The Ravens-Steelers game will kick off at 8 p.m. and be televised nationally on NBC. Of course, this remains dependent on sufficient evidence of Baltimore’s outbreak being contained as head coach John Harbaugh reportedly told players Thursday night that the training facility would remain closed until Monday at the earliest.
Should the Ravens and Pittsburgh finally meet for the second time this season on Tuesday, the Ravens’ game against Dallas scheduled for Thursday would be moved to Monday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. The timing of that game would allow Jackson to be eligible to return to play against the Cowboys if he’s recovered and been cleared after his bout with COVID-19.
This would mark the second time this season that the NFL has rescheduled a game to a Tuesday after Tennessee beat Buffalo in Week 5. Much like the Ravens now, the Titans were dealing with a widespread virus outbreak that forced the postponement of their Week 4 meeting with Pittsburgh.
