PITTSBURGH — Earlier this week, the reaction to the Ravens having a spate of positive COVID-19 tests was pretty predictable among Steelers fans.
After all, the positive tests within the Ravens organization were seemingly out of control earlier this week, forcing the NFL to postpone Baltimore’s game Thursday night against the Steelers to Sunday.
Then, more positive tests Thursday night -- including to quarterback Lamar Jackson -- forced the NFL to move that game again, this time to Tuesday night.
We now know that even that might not be enough.
The Ravens have stopped having players test positive after placing Jackson, fullback Patrick Ricard, defensive lineman Justin Madibuke and long-snapper Morgan Cox in the Reserve/COVID-List.
That was just in time for the Steelers to start having a outbreak of their own. Defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt and Isaiah Buggs and offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins were placed on the Reserve/COVID-List by the Steelers Friday afternoon. Then, Saturday two more people within the organization, running back James Conner and special teams coach Danny Smith also tested positive for the Steelers.
The game between the Steelers and Ravens is now in jeopardy once again.
As of now, the NFL has no plans to shift the game from Tuesday. But that could change if the Steelers continue to have positive tests. In that case, the solution would be the addition of a Week 18 game between the two teams or to cancel the game altogether. If either happens, the NFL could shift the Dallas-Baltimore game, which had been moved to Monday, Dec. 7, back to Thursday night. The game was initially moved because the league couldn’t have the Ravens play on Tuesday and then again on Thursday.
How did we get here and what happens now? Well, let’s take a look at what we know.
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