NEW YORK _ A frustrating start to the Jets season took a bizarre turn Friday when players and coaches were sent home after a player received a presumptive positive test result for the coronavirus in the morning. Further testing revealed that it was, in fact, a false positive.
The Jets' game against the Cardinals appeared in doubt early in the day before it became clear that it would be played when Kliff Kingsbury's team boarded their cross-country flight at around 6 p.m. EDT. The Jets later released a statement confirming that all tests taken Friday came back negative.
"This evening, we received negative PCR COVID-19 test results for all players, coaches and personnel," The Jets said in a statement Friday night. "Following a presumptive positive COVID-19 test and out of an abundance of caution to ensure everyone's health and safety, we sent all players and personnel home this morning. We also initiated all NFL mandated protocols, including player isolation, subsequent testing and contact tracing. As we have thus far, we will continue to follow required health and safety protocols in the best interests of our coaches, players, staff and community. We look forward to our game this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals."
The player who had a presumed positive test _ and some players considered to be in close contact with him _ were re-tested on Friday, according to sources.
The 0-4 Jets, who will start veteran quarterback Joe Flacco for the injured Sam Darnold, conducted virtual meetings Friday.
The Jets were the latest team to be affected by this unusual season. The Titans' outbreak has highlighted a troublesome couple weeks for the NFL, which had to postpone and re-arrange several games on the schedule. The Patriots-Chiefs game last week was moved from Sunday to Monday in Kansas City after Cam Newton tested positive.
The Titans' mess has had a ripple effect that forced the league to postpone their game in Week 4 to later in the season. The litany of positive test results prompted the NFL to move this weekend's game with the Bills to Tuesday night, which bumped Buffalo's Week 6 matchup against the Chiefs from next Thursday night to next Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Jets have had their fair share of issues on the field. Calls for Adam Gase's ouster are growing louder by the day. Darnold is dealing with a shoulder injury that could force him to miss multiple games. Questions about why decision makers played an injured Mekhi Becton _ who is officially doubtful for Sunday _ last Thursday on a short week reached a fever pitch.
