Credit: USATSI

The team’s next game this weekend has been called into question.

It’s a dangerous time to be an athlete, both in terms of physical health and job stability. The obvious problem is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which I highly doubt you need explained to you by now, but a side effect of the pandemic and how it affects athletes is that it becomes much more difficult to keep the game schedule consistent. If a player or staff member gets sick, the status of a game gets called into question for the sake of player health on both teams, and worst case scenario, the whole thing goes kaput.

The New England Patriots have a game coming up this Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but due to a new spat of COVID-19 diagnoses, that game may end up not happening. The team’s cornerback, Stephen Gilmore, has tested positive for the virus, which prompted the Patriots to cancel their Wednesday practice. This positive reading comes right after the Patriots’ quarterback, Cam Newton, also tested positive. According to reports, Newton is feeling better and was all set to come to practice today, but with Gilmore’s positive test, there’s no longer a practice to attend.

Credit: Jim Davis/The Boston Globe

Sources close to the team claim that Gilmore was close to Newton before his positive diagnosis, and traveled together with the rest of the team from their most recent game in Kansas City. The entire defensive back of the Patriots is currently undergoing COVID-19 testing to determine if anyone else has the virus.

As part of the COVID-era safety rules put in place by the league, teams are required to have two consecutive days of no new positive tests in order to hold practices. If any more infections sprout up in the next day or so, the Patriots may not be able to reopen their facilities until the Broncos are already on their doorstep.