The NFL returned to football during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and made it through two weeks without any major setbacks. But the league on Saturday is now facing the first such instance, as Atlanta Falcons rookie cornerback A.J. Terrell is set to miss Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears due to COVID-19 testing.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first with the news:
Falcons' CB A.J. Terrell is being placed on the reserve COVID list and is out for Sunday’s game against the Bears. He now becomes the first NFL player this season to miss a game due to COVID.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2020
Schefter followed up the intial report with clarification on Terrell’s situation:
Falcons got the news about CB A.J. Terrell's test today; it was from a test he took Friday morning. Terrell practiced Friday. Now immediate contact tracing goes into effect, per league protocols, but the Falcons have not gotten any other positive test results. https://t.co/0mqy9dNLUG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2020
This will be a situation to monitor, in terms of additional testing. Hopefully the Falcons continue to have no other positive test results, and their game can go forward as scheduled on Sunday.
