The NFL has moved three games due to the COVID-19 outbreaks: Las Vegas to Cleveland from Saturday to Monday; and Seattle to the Los Angeles Rams and Washington to Philadelphia Sunday through Tuesday.

The Browns could have been without up to 16 regular players on Saturday, so the game is now scheduled to start at 5 p.m. EST Monday. It will be televised by NFL Network.

Washington and Philadelphia will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday, as will the Seahawks and Rams. Both matches will be televised by Fox and available on Sunday Ticket.

“We have made these schedule changes based on medical advice and after discussion with the NFLPA, as we are seeing a new, highly transmissible form of the virus this week, resulting in a substantial increase in cases in the league,” said the NFL in a statement. . “We continue to make decisions in consultation with medical experts to ensure the health and safety of the NFL community.”

Previously, the NFL had no plans to move any games due to coronavirus outbreaks. He even said that packages “could be at stake”. But recent developments with the omicron strain of COVID-19 have changed the way the league thinks – as have several outbreaks in the league entering week 15 of the season.

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“We will do everything possible, in accordance with the underlying health and safety principles, to play our full schedule in the current 18 weeks,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a note sent to the 32 clubs and obtained by the PA . “Each team is obligated to have their team ready to play at the scheduled time and place. There is no right to postpone a game, and games will not be postponed or rescheduled due to problems. roster affecting a particular group of positions or a particular number of players.

“We will do everything possible, in accordance with the underlying health and safety principles, to meet our full schedule during the current 18 weeks.”

– NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

“If the games are postponed, we will do everything possible to minimize the competitive and economic burden on the participating teams.”

The players are not happy

The movements were not well received by some players.

“I pay my player dues just to make myself lie and the rules bent!” Raiders linebacker KJ Wright tweeted at the league and the players’ union. “If it were the other way around, I swear we would play tomorrow.”

Eagles safety Rodney McLeod tweeted: “So we have to suffer and jeopardize our schedule because of another team mistake. Make it make sense!”

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll also suggested that preparation for the future game should be considered.

“Yes, that’s a big concern. Anytime you play a Thursday game or it’s like a Friday game, I think it’s a big burden on the players,” he said. “It’s a big burden for the recovery time. It’s not what their body wants to do. They are trained to have a whole week to recover and they don’t get it.

“Now, if our game (against Chicago on December 26) could go back to Monday, that would help some of us. I don’t know, that would also happen in the middle of next week. I don’t I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m not a fan of it for the sake of the player. “

Last season, amid the coronavirus, the NFL finished its season on schedule, but had to reschedule 15 games, some midweek. In July, Goodell warned teams that no games would be rescheduled under such circumstances and, instead, forfeits could occur.

Earlier on Friday, Saints coach Sean Payton tested positive for COVID-19 and was immediately isolated from the squad.

Payton, who is vaccinated and tested positive in 2020 for the coronavirus, will remain isolated for 10 days unless he meets league requirements for a fully vaccinated individual to return to the team environment.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. (Associated press)

The Saints have said defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been given head coaching duties for Sunday night’s game in Tampa Bay. Payton is expected to return for the New Orleans game against the Miami Dolphins on December 27.

The positive test for Payton comes after he missed training on Wednesday when the club said he was ‘under time’ but tested negative. Payton was back in training and meetings on Thursday.

Payton’s positive test came as COVID-19 cases have increased in the NFL in recent days, reflecting trends seen in the general population.

Saints activated

Three Saints players – defensive end Cameron Jordan, running back Mark Ingram and wide receiver Ty Montgomery – did not play against the New York Jets on Sunday due to positive COVID-19 tests. But all were activated from the New Orleans reserve / COVID-19 list.

“No one can sit here and try to be Sean,” Ingram said. “He is his own person and his own coach and what he brings to the table is irreplaceable.… We are all leaning on each other and we are all going to fight for each other. We are going to maintain it for Sean. as long as he’s gone. “

“There are so many other people (around the NFL) who are positive this week. We just hope everyone stays safe, everyone stays healthy, and everyone recovers quickly.”

“There are so many other people (around the NFL) who are positive this week. We just hope everyone stays safe, everyone stays healthy, and everyone recovers quickly.”

– Mark Ingram, Saints of New Orleans

The Saints (6-7) snapped a five-game slip when they beat the Jets 30-9 and remain in contention for one of the NFC’s playoff spots with four regular-season games remaining.

In week 2 of this season, the Saints were deprived of many assistant coaches due to a virus outbreak, but Payton was not among those who tested positive. Payton was among the first known NFL employees to contract COVID-19 in the spring of 2020.

Friday also:

—Washington put Taylor Heinicke on the COVID-19 roster, making the team’s plan for the team’s next game in Philadelphia a complete uncertainty.

Based on updated league rules, Heinicke could still play if he is negative twice this weekend and remains asymptomatic. Kyle Allen’s replacement entered coronavirus protocol on Tuesday and also remains a possibility if cleared.

QB practice team Kyle Shurmur would be in line to start if neither Heinicke nor Allen are available. He played at Vanderbilt and is the son of Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes the ball to running back Kareem Hunt (27) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, November 1 2020, in Cleveland. (Associated press)

Washington also signed Garrett Gilbert from the New England practice team on Friday. Gilbert started out in the NFL with Dallas, but has known coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner well since their 2018 collaboration with the Carolina Panthers.

With the addition of Heinicke and the removal of center Keith Ismael from the COVID-19 list, Washington has 21 players unavailable for reasons related to the virus, including two players on the injured reserve and two on the training squad. Defense units and special teams have been wiped out, with defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis, passer Montez Sweat and James-Smith Williams and safety Kamren Curl. But the delay until Tuesday gives Washington a better chance to get Allen, Sweat and others back.

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Washington (6-7) is currently in the last spot for the NFC wildcard before Week 15 with the Eagles, who are also 6-7 and have just completed their week off.

—With Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum in the COVID-19 reserve, the Cleveland Browns sign quarterback Kyle Lauletta, who spent training camp with the team. Lauletta’s agent announced the decision on Twitter.

Third-string quarterback Nick Mullens is expected to start. He made 16 starts in three seasons for the San Francisco 49ers.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has joined the team’s massive COVID-19 roster after testing positive, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Clowney tested positive along with linebackers Mack Wilson Sr. and Tony Fields, according to the person who requested anonymity because the team had not announced test results.

—Chicago has added backup quarterback Andy Dalton and cornerback Duke Shelley to the COVID-19 roster. He also activated offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson, giving the Bears 13 players on the roster. This includes wide receiver Allen Robinson, nose tackle Eddie Goldman and cornerback Artie Burns.

—The Panthers have added third-string quarterback Matt Barkley to the COVID-19 roster. The team sequestered replacement PJ Walker for remote meetings earlier this week when Barkley fell ill. They monitor the condition of Cam Newton and Walker. If both prove positive, Sam Darnold could be raised from the injured reserve – but only if his shoulder is medically cleansed first.

–Buffalo placed starting left tackle Dion Dawkins on the COVID-19 roster, leaving his status uncertain for Sunday against Carolina.

—Myles Gaskin of Miami has been cleared to resume training. The Dolphins had three running backs on the COVID-19 list before Gaskin was cleared. They face the Jets on Sunday.