PITTSBURGH — A day after placing three players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Steelers learned that two members of the organization — one player and one assistant coach — tested positive for the virus.
Starting running back James Conner is the Steelers player who has tested positive and is awaiting another test Sunday to confirm, sources told the Post-Gazette. There has not yet been an announcement or roster move made by the Steelers, who canceled their practices Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They are still scheduled to practice Sunday, but of course, that could change as the team does the mandatory contact tracing.
The Steelers assistant who tested positive is special teams coach Danny Smith. Smith, 67, has coached that unit for the team since 2013.
Offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins and defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt and Isaiah Buggs were placed on the COVID list Friday, joining offensive guard Kevin Dotson, who has been there since Nov. 14 — all of which casts further doubt on the rescheduled matchup with the Ravens for Tuesday night at Heinz Field. Only two Steelers have been confirmed positive cases: running back Jaylen Samuels in training camp and tight end Vance McDonald earlier this month.
Conner is one of the more high-profile NFL players to test positive, especially given his comeback from Hodgkin's lymphoma while playing at Pitt. Conner had said multiple times in the offseason that he did not consider opting out of this season given his medical history and that he no longer felt at-risk after his past bout with cancer.
Likely to miss a minimum of 10 days, that would mean Conner is out for both the Ravens game and the following week against Washington at home. Players who are categorized as close-contacts can return within five days if they continue to test negative.
A request for comment from the Steelers was not immediately returned, but organizations do not have to specify whether players are placed on the reserve list because of positive tests. They also must be placed on the list if they are deemed to have been in close contact with an infected individual.
