‘All of this has sparked conversation about whether the NFL’s protocols to deal with the coronavirus pandemic are being followed. The league began the week by admonishing its clubs to be stricter with day-to-day safety measures after Las Vegas Raiders players attended a charity event without masks. They have since been fined, but two players who were on the field against the Bills on Sunday have tested positive for Covid-19. To date, the Bills say none of their players has tested positive, but the team knows there is little comfort in that.’
Archives for October 8, 2020
Game in Tennessee Sunday seems unlikely, but Bills prep hard anyway
‘“We’ll control the controllables and trust that they’re going to put us in a safe environment on Sunday if there is a game,” said Bills receiver Stefon Diggs. “For us, we’re going to prepare like there’s a game, anticipate there being a game and practice like there’s going to be a game. So even if there isn’t a game, we’re preparing for every opponent and we want to stay on point.”’
Bills guard Feliciano returns to practice; Wallace to IR; White, Roberts, Ford do not practice
‘Feliciano has been on injured reserve since surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle over the summer. He had initially targeted the Week 4 game against the Raiders for his return. The Bills have not indicated the timetable for Feliciano’s return, and he is not listed on the injury report because he has not been activated.’
40 years later, recovered jersey remains prized possession for Ex-Bill Jeff Nixon
‘“I knew it was mine. It said ‘NIXON’ on the back, and it was mesh. I said, ‘Hey, where did you get that jersey from?’ He was with around 10 of his friends, and he told me that he was working as a Bills’ equipment guy back then and he said he took it after the Miami game.’
Voice of the Fan: Brandon Beane and the Beane counters deserve our praise
‘The draft day trade in 2018 to move up to the No. 7 overall choice to select Allen was brave and brilliant. The Bills projected Allen as their top prospect, but most fans at the time were ecstatic that “Josh” was still available, and then were immediately gobsmacked when Beane said “Allen” instead of “Rosen.” Today, that idea seems laughable.’
Two more positive COVID-19 tests for Titans means game with Bills in serious jeopardy
‘Without saying it, McDermott seemed to indicate it might not be wise to send the Bills into a COVID-19 hot zone for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game, though he also made it clear, “That decision is probably not going to be made by Sean McDermott.”’
Hall of Fame QB gives some props to Buffalo’s Allen
‘But Allen’s epiphany isn’t limited to impressive passing numbers. He’s reduced his anxiety-inducing runs to an average of four per game, though he still has three rushing TDs, his decision-making has improved dramatically and he’s become a respected leader in the locker room almost overnight.’
Titans broke Covid protocols, per reports: Could game vs. Bills be a forfeit?
‘The Titans’ building was closed on Sept. 29 and the team was specifically told not to have any in-person meetings. Since the outbreak started, Tennessee has had 20 positive cases, including two more on Wednesday, which puts Sunday’s Buffalo Bills vs. Titans game in extreme jeopardy. Teams must have two straight days of negative tests before they can re-open their facility following a positive test. That would mean the earliest the Titans could practice again is Saturday after being out of their facility for almost two weeks.’
Bills-Titans is in jeopardy: Sean McDermott says NFL must determine risks
‘Two more Titans players tested positive for Covid on Wednesday, bringing the total within the organization to 20 since Sept. 29. After no positives on Tuesday the hopes were that Tennessee would be able to get back in its facility on Wednesday to start practicing. But this setback means the earliest they’d be able to return in Saturday, putting Sunday’s game against the Bills in jeopardy.’
Bills’ Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs weigh in on Titans situation
‘“We’re planning on playing and taking it one day at a time. We’re not writing anything off yet. We really don’t know what’s going to happen. But the best thing that we can do is prepare like we’re playing a game on Sunday.”’
Bills place Levi Wallace on injured reserve; Tre’Davious White, Cody Ford miss practice
‘Wallace was listed as week-to-week by Bills coach Sean McDermott on Monday and now will miss at least three weeks as he works his way back. Buffalo brought back second-year cornerback Cam Lewis to the active roster from the team’s practice squad.’
Bills’ Josh Allen receives apology from PFF analyst
‘On Wednesday, Monson took it one step further by completing a Josh Allen apology form.’
Buffalo Bills 2020 sideline hats, shirts are here | How to buy online
‘The sideline collection includes gear from the special Salute to Service line, which features a flag Buffalo Bills graphic in a military-style. Proceeds support the NFL’s military nonprofit partners. You’ll also find the full collection of hats, hoodies, jackets and sideline apparel from Nike, New Era and more.’
Ritzel: Titans potential forfeit to Bills would be unfortunate lesson
‘While it would improve their AFC standing and maintain a perfect record, don’t doubt for a moment that Sean McDermott and Co. want to play this game on the field, the right way. A meeting with the 2019 AFC runner-up Titans is a measuring stick for a Bills team that is sizing itself up as a conference contender.’
How would Bills feel about traveling to face Titans amid COVID-19 outbreak?
‘”I think that’s real. That’s a real situation,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said on a conference call Wednesday a few hours before the Titans announced that wide receiver Corey Davis was the latest player to test positive for COVID-19.’
Thursday’s Tennessee Coverage
Titans’ game vs. Bills in jeopardy after Corey Davis tests positive for COVID-19 (Nashville Tennessean)
How would Bills feel about traveling to face Titans amid COVID-19 outbreak? (Nashville Tennessean)
Titans players held workout at Montgomery Bell Academy after facility closed due to COVID-19 outbreak (Nashville Tennessean)
It’s time to start blaming Titans – not just fortune – for COVID-19 outbreak | Estes (Nashville Tennessean)
Report: Titans broke COVID-19 protocol with off-site workout at MBA (Nashville Post)
NFL Looking At “Several” Protocol Incidents With Titans (AP)
Source: Tennessee Titans players test positive for coronavirus (ESPN)
Tennessee Titans players held workout at Nashville school with team facility closed (ESPN)
Two more Titans reportedly test positive for COVID-19, facility remains closed, game vs. Bills in jeopardy (CBS Sports)
Titans players, including Ryan Tannehill, break protocol to work out during COVID-19 outbreak, per report (CBS Sports)
Report: Two Titans Players Test Positive for COVID-19, Sunday’s Game in Jeopardy (SI)
Titans game against Bills in jeopardy after additional player tests positive for COVID-19 (WKRN-TV)
Titans add Corey Davis to Reserve/COVID-19 List (WKRN-TV)
Group of Titans players held off-site workout after COVID-19 shutdown (WKRN-TV)
Two more Titans players tests positive for COVID-19; Bills game now in jeopardy (WTVF-TV)
Group of Titans worked out after COVID-19 shutdown, may have violated NFL protocols (WTVF-TV)
Titans Add Another Player to Reserve/COVID-19 List (TennesseeTitans.com)
Titans Host Bills in Battle of Unbeaten Teams at Nissan Stadium (TennesseeTitans.com)
Bills place cornerback Levi Wallace on IR, promote Lewis
‘Wallace has been inconsistent this year and spent the offseason competing with Josh Norman before the veteran offseason free-agent addition missed the first three weeks with a left hamstring injury. Norman was activated off IR on Saturday and finished with a forced fumble, which he recovered, and four tackles in replacing Wallace.’
Reports: Two more Titans test positive for COVID-19; Sunday’s matchup with Bills in jeopardy
‘Starting in Tennessee, the Titans have had two more players test positive for COVID-19 after two consecutive days of negative tests throughout the organization. ESPN NFL reporter Dianna Russini at first reported that it was one Titans player to test positive, but senior NFL reporter Albert Breer later added that an additional player also tested positive for the coronavirus.’
Report: Titans broke COVID-19 protocols by gathering for workout
‘At the time of the alleged workout, the Titans’ facility was closed due to their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers being postponed after the initial outbreak. According to Kuharsky, a group of players worked out at a local private school after being told not to.’
Bills place CB Levi Wallace on IR, re-sign Cam Lewis
‘Cornerback Josh Norman made his Bills’ debut Sunday after Wallace went down and is now expected to start opposite Tre’Davious White. However, White was one of nine players who did not fully participate in practice on Wednesday. He was listed on the team’s official injury report as having a back injury.’
Report: Bills-Titans game in jeopardy due to another positive COVID-19 test from the Titans
‘A new report from ESPN’s Dianna Russini says that Sunday’s Buffalo Bills game against the Tennessee Titans is in jeopardy, due to another Titans player testing positive for COVID-19.’
Bills preparing for Titans game until told otherwise
‘“We’re taking it one day at a time, we’re not writing anything off yet, we really don’t know what’s going to happen,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said Wednesday. “The best thing we can do is prepare like we’re playing a game on Sunday.”’
Bills place CB Levi Wallace on injured reserve
‘Wallace suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of last weekend’s game against the Raiders and didn’t return. Josh Norman primarily played in his place opposite Tre’Davious White.’
Bills face uncertainty this week as two more Titans players test positive for COVID-19
‘“I’m not gonna get into that right now, I don’t have all the facts in front of me. I’ve been really tied up with the team this morning with getting some updates throughout the morning on the developments down in Tennessee so it’s an ongoing and evolving situation and we’ll get information from the league when they have all their information,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said before practice on Wednesday.’
Bills head coach Sean McDermott says there are no positive COVID tests at this time
‘“We’re four days out from the game, and our responsibility has got to be the health and safety of our organization and the trust that we have in the league to do what they feel is right,” McDermott said.’
Bills QB Josh Allen: “We’re preparing to play on Sunday”
‘“If the game does happen I trust our staff and trust what coach McDermott and the league tells us to do. As long as they’re testing negative and I don’t know what the protocol is, how many days they need to test negative but it is what it is. We’re controlling what we can control here, we’re planning on playing and taking it one day at a time,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said.’
Bills Injury Report: Feliciano returns to practice
‘LB Matt Milano and CB Levi Wallace will not practice on Wednesday. McDermott called both players “week to week” on Monday.’
Report: Buffalo Bills’ game Sunday could be in jeopardy after more Titans’ players test positive for COVID-19
‘The Titans’ team was hopeful they could return to the team facility Wednesday after they had gone the last two days without a positive test. However that has changed with the report of the new cases.’
Bills trust McDermott’s leadership during COVID-19 pandemic
‘“If the game does happen, I trust our staff and trust what coach (Sean) McDermott and the league tell us to do,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “We are taking it one day at a time here, and we’re trusting in each other here and holding each other accountable here.’
Report: 2 more Titans players test positive for COVID-19 ahead of week 5 game vs. Bills
‘Nearly two dozen players and staff tested positive for the virus last week.’
One year from turning point game, Josh Allen is a new QB
‘“After that game, I had numerous talks with [offensive coordinator Brian] Daboll, [head coach Sean] McDermott, and [general manager Brandon] Beane,” said Allen. “I made a vow to them, and I’ll keep that in house, that I’d be a better quarterback and do things the right way.”’
Bills QB Josh Allen: ‘We’re preparing to play on Sunday’
‘“If the game does happen I trust our staff and trust what coach McDermott and the league tells us to do. As long as they’re testing negative and I don’t know what the protocol is, how many days they need to test negative but it is what it is. We’re controlling what we can control here, we’re planning on playing and taking it one day at a time,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said.’
Levi Wallace heads to IR, five others miss practice with injuries
‘Wallace is not the only concern for the Bills on the injury front. Linebacker Matt Milano missed practice with a pec injury. On Monday, head coach Sean McDermott called both Wallace and Milano “week-to-week”.’
Bills game in Nashville not likely to be played
‘But this is not a simple fix for the NFL. The Titans already had last week’s game with the Steelers postponed and have planned to use their bye week to make up the game with the Ravens. So the Titans do not have an open week on the schedule to play this game.’
Sean McDermott says decision to play Sunday “won’t be made by Sean McDermott”
‘While Sean McDermott met with the Bills media over Zoom as usual, this week with the COVID-19 scenario in Tennessee, Buffalo’s head coach barely had any questions about the game on Sunday, but rather if he wanted his team playing against the Titans this week.’
Bills ‘learning to adapt’ as COVID concerns mount around the NFL
‘As COVID pops up in locker rooms across the NFL, Sean McDermott confirmed to reporters that there are zero positive cases in Orchard Park.’
Bills game in jeopardy after 2 more Titans test positive for COVID-19
‘The Bills are scheduled to play the Titans on Sunday in Tennessee, but the game is in jeopardy after two more positive COVID-19 tests in the Titans’ organization on Wednesday.’
4 things we learned from Sean McDermott about Bills-Titans week
‘”I would say they’re aware of it, much like we are as an organization,” McDermott said. “In terms of, they’re aware of it and their antennas are up. Most of these young guys follow social media rather closely, for better or worse. But that said, I know they’re focused on going and taking the field here in a few minutes to practice. I understand, as I said before, there’s a human element to this and it takes mental toughness to do our best to compartmentalize that. But that’s what we need to do right now, so that’s what we plan on doing as we take the practice field shortly.”‘
What Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Jordan Poyer + others said about Bills at Titans | Week 5
‘”I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating, but as a team that’s off to a good start we feel like we’ve got a good thing rolling here,” Allen said. “We want to play, that’s our mindset. And again, like I said, we’re preparing to play on Sunday. Unfortunately, it takes two to tango and it is what it is. We’ll figure it out. The league will figure it out. Then, we’ll move forward from whenever we get the news if we’re playing, if we’re not playing. Again, this is a team that’s been flexible, and we’ve been able to adjust and overcome a lot of different things throughout the season. This is just another one of those things.”‘
Bills promote CB Cam Lewis to the 53-man roster; Wallace placed on IR
‘Cornerback Levi Wallace (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. Wallace suffered the injury in Sunday’s game against the Raiders.’