Two more Broncos go on COVID-19 list, practice canceled

The Denver Broncos placed starting defensive end Shelby Harris and practice squad offensive lineman Darrin Paulo on the COVID-19/reserve list Wednesday and canceled practice for the second time in six days.

Paulo tested positive for the novel coronavirus and Harris self-reported after coming into close contact with an individual who has the virus. Harris needs five consecutive days of negative tests in order to return to the team, putting his status for this weekend’s game at Atlanta in jeopardy.

If he doesn’t play Sunday, the Broncos would be able to add a player to the active roster for the game.

One of the Broncos’ best defenders, Harris is the third player placed on the COVID-19/reserve list since Friday, when starting right guard Graham Glasgow announced he was infected with the virus.

Players and coaches reported to team headquarters Wednesday morning for their daily coronavirus tests and then went home to participate in virtual meetings. They were supposed to return in the afternoon for practice, but coach Vic Fangio canceled the on-field work after learning of Paulo's positive test and consulting with the league office.

The Broncos signed wide receiver Kendall Hinton, who was with the team in training camp, to take Paulo’s place on their practice squad.

Earlier Wednesday, Fangio said he was confident his team is safe and feels the Broncos are insulated from a major coronavirus outbreak despite another player testing positive for COVID-19.

“There’s always concern, but the thing I really feel good about is that none of the positive tests that we’ve had have originated from this building,” Fangio said during a conference call with Denver media Wednesday morning.

“It’s all happened in the guys' or the coaches’ daily lives outside the building where they get it," Fangio said. “So, I actually feel better when everybody’s here than I do when they’re not here.”

Fangio canceled on-field work after Paulo was added to the COVID-19/reserve list 24 hours after general manager John Elway and team president Joe Ellis tested positive for the novel coronavirus that has killed almost a quarter-million Americans.

“It was in consultation between us and the league and we just felt like it was the best thing to do in light of the number of (positive) tests that we’ve had recently,” Fangio said.

Fangio lauded the organization’s implementation of enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols, saying, “We’ve done a good job of keeping this building clean. Our medical people have done well, the people in charge of the facilities have gone overboard in making this place safe and I feel really confident in saying that all the positive tests that we’ve had originated from outside these walls.”

What Fangio is saying is that he doesn’t believe the Broncos coaches and players are spreading the infection around to other members of the team even though offensive line coach Mike Munchak and right guard Graham Glasgow went under COVID-19 protocols last week and Paulo brings the number of quarantined individuals from the offensive line room to three.

Fangio said he anticipates Munchak returning to work Thursday when the Broncos (3-4) plan to return to practice to resume preparations for their game Sunday against the Falcons (2-6). Their position and team meetings will remain virtual.

The new case means the Broncos now have three players, three assistant coaches, two executives and several other staffers at team headquarters who have had to quarantine in recent weeks because of novel coronavirus infections or exposure despite daily COVID-19 testing and other safety measures.

Fangio said the infected players and coaches are all attending virtual meetings and getting their work in from home while under quarantine.

The Broncos also canceled practice last Friday when Glasgow tested positive.

Asked if he has admonished his players and staff to stay safe outside team headquarters in light of the spate of infections, Fangio retorted, “No, I haven’t spoken about that the last few weeks. I’ve spoken to them about that the last few months.”

Fangio gave his team both Monday and Tuesday off following its 31-30 come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Other than players going into the building for rehab, the players haven't been together since Sunday.

In addition to Munchak, running backs coach Curtis Modkins and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell have been under the league’s COVID-19 protocols, meaning either they were infected or had to quarantine after being in close contact with an infected individual.

The Broncos have been under the NFL’s enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols since Modkins’ infection was diagnosed in mid-October. He returned to work last week.

49ers close facility after Bourne's positive COVID-19 test

The San Francisco 49ers have shut down their facility after receiver Kendrick Bourne tested positive for the coronavirus but are still scheduled to play Green Bay on Thursday night as of now.

The team said the positive test came back Wednesday morning and Bourne immediately went into self-quarantine after getting the diagnosis. He was later placed on the COVID-19 list.

“Our organization has entered the NFL’s intensive protocol and we are working with the league on contact tracing to identify high risk individuals,” the team said in a statement.

"All team functions will be conducted virtually today. The health and safety of our players, staff and community are the organization’s highest priority. We will continue to work closely with the NFL and medical professionals and will follow their direction.”

The Niners later placed starting left tackle Trent Williams, and receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel on the COVID-19 list because of “high risk” contacts with Bourne. Samuel was already out this week with a hamstring injury.

A person familiar with the plans says the Thursday night game is still set to be played as scheduled. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t made any announcement.

The Packers left Green Bay for California on Wednesday afternoon.

The absence of Bourne and Aiyuk are the latest blows to an already thin receiver group. Aiyuk is second on the team with 28 catches for 371 yards and two TDs, and Bourne is the third-leading receiver with 25 receptions for 352 yards and a touchdown.

All-Pro tight end George Kittle leads the team in receptions but is likely out for the season with a broken foot. Samuel is out this week with a hamstring injury and Richie James Jr.'s status is in doubt because of a sprained ankle.

The Niners also released 2018 second-round pick Dante Pettis earlier this week, leaving Trent Taylor as the only wide receiver on the active roster with a catch this season.

San Francisco also could call up receivers from the practice squad with Kevin White, River Cracraft and Chris Finke all options.

The positive test came just days after the 49ers played at Seattle. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said that general manager John Schneider has been in touch with the Niners and acknowledged some concern.

“Of course we are,” Carroll said. “We just played them a few days back. We are doing our homework on with the timing of his exposure and all kind of stuff, and when he showed first and all that, to make sense of it. We have to be tuned into that and see what happens. I know they shut down today and they’re playing tomorrow, I believe. So we’ll see what happens there. All we can do right now is test and be aware of the connections.”

This is the first positive coronavirus test for the 49ers since the start of the regular season. They had three players on the COVID-19 list in the preseason, with James, running back Jeff Wilson Jr. and linebacker Fred Warner all spending time on the list.

The Packers are dealing with their own issues with the coronavirus after running back AJ Dillon tested positive on Monday. Running back Jamaal Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin were placed on the COVID-19 list on Tuesday as “high-risk” contacts to Dillon.

Stafford on Reserve/COVID-19 list, wife says he's negative

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, although his wife Kelly said on social media he tested negative.

It was the second straight day the team gave a player the designation. The Reserve/COVID-19 list was created for players who either test positive or have been in close contact with an infected person.

The Lions announced Stafford’s status on Wednesday after finishing practice. Earlier in the day, coach Matt Patricia said there was no requirement to shut down the team’s training facility. Some NFL teams have closed their training centers after players and or staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

“There’s no need for any of that, as far as our situation,” Patricia said a couple hours before leading practice. “I can’t speak to the future.

“Everybody across the country, especially in Michigan right now, with the cases going up, really no one knows what the next day is going to look like. We just have to do the best we can to stay safe."

The Lions put linebacker Jarrad Davis on the list Tuesday.

Detroit (3-4) plays at Minnesota (2-5) on Sunday, and Stafford's status is unknown.

Stafford's backups are Chase Daniel and David Blough. The 34-year-old Daniel has started five games in his career. Blough started five games last year with the Lions after they acquired the undrafted rookie from the Cleveland Browns.

Three months ago, the Lions removed Stafford from the COVID-19 list after saying he received a false positive test result. The news received a lot of attention due to his stature in the league and because his wife had surgery last year to remove a brain tumor.

Kelly Stafford had plenty to say on her Instagram page in August after the false positive test, lashing out at the league for publicly putting her husband on the list.

Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009. He ranks No. 18 in league history with nearly 43,000 passing yards and is No. 18 on the all-time list with 269 touchdown passes in his career.

Giants acquire WR Pettis on waivers from San Francisco

The New York Giants have acquired wide receiver Dante Pettis on waivers from the San Francisco 49ers.

The Giants announced the move late Wednesday, a day after Pettis was released by the Niners.

Pettis will be in the six-day COVID-19 protocol so he will not count on the roster. He will be eligible to play when the Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 15.

Pettis played in 28 games with 12 starts in three seasons with the 49ers. His career totals are 38 receptions for 576 yards and seven touchdowns. He played in five games this season and did not have a catch.

Pettis was a second-round draft choice in 2018 after playing at the University of Washington.