Positive COVID-19 tests for Ravens players and staff have put their Thanksgiving night game against the Steelers in jeopardy.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the NFL has chosen to move the game from Thanksgiving night to Sunday afternoon. The Ravens have had at least five players and four staffers test positive for the coronavirus, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday that Baltimore running backs Mark Ingram and JK Dobbins were among the positive tests. The Ravens were scheduled to take on the 10-0 Steelers in Pittsburgh on Thursday night at 8:20 p.m. ET, but the game won’t be taking place at that time.
Sporting News will update this story with the latest developments as they happen.
MORE: Full NFL schedule for Thanksgiving 2020
Steelers vs. Ravens news updates for Thanksgiving
Ravens are shutting down their training facility
(Nov. 26): According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens are shutting down their training facility until Monday at the earliest. Ravens players were told by John Harbaugh that they would not be allowed in the facilities, which makes it very unlikely that this game will be played this week.
Lamar Jackson reportedly tests positive for COVID-19
(Nov. 26): Sources told NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport that Baltimore’s MVP quarterback tested positive. Neither Jackson nor the team has confirmed the report. It was not immediately known whether Jackson was among the five players initially reported as being positive. The midweek news means Jackson will miss Sunday’s rescheduled game as he moves into isolation. Jackson’s backup, Robert Griffin III, would be in line to replace him in the lineup.
Steelers-Ravens to be played 1:15 p.m. Sunday on NBC
(Nov. 25): The Steelers and Ravens will play on a national broadcast at 1:15 p.m. Sunday on NBC, the NFL announced.
Steelers-Ravens postponed until Sunday
(Nov. 25): The Steelers-Ravens Thanksgiving game has been postponed to Sunday, Nov. 29, according to an official release from the NFL. The broadcast time and date are still to be announced.
Pernell McPhee to COVID-19 list, out Thursday
(Nov. 24): Ravens linebacker Pernell McPhee was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That means he’ll be out Thursday.
Schefter: ‘Further positives could mean postponing’
(Nov. 24): As of Tuesday afternoon, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Ravens-Steelers Thanksgiving game was still on as scheduled. He also wrote “one source warned that further positives could mean postponing it.” Pittsburgh already had a postponement in Week 4 when the Titans were unable to play due to a team outbreak.
Ravens receive more positive tests two days before Thanksgiving
(Nov. 24): The numbers here differ slightly. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Baltimore is up to four positive player tests and five positive support staff tests for a total of nine. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported that there’s now been “at least 10 positive tests.” Regardless, the Baltimore positive testing numbers increased from Monday to Tuesday ahead of a Thursday game.
Mark Ingram, JK Dobbins test positive for COVID-19
(Nov. 23): NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Ravens running backs Mark Ingram and JK Dobbins both tested positive for COVID-19 and would be going on the COVID-19/reserve list. That would keep them out of Thursday night’s game. Gus Edwards moved to the front of Baltimore’s RB depth chart with this news. John Harbaugh told reporters that only one other player had to quarantine as a result of contact tracing: nose tackle Brandon Williams.