For the second time in less than a month, the Falcons shut down their facilities because of COVID-19 concerns.
“Out of an abundance of caution following one new positive test to a member of the football staff, we have made the decision to stop all in-person work at IBM Performance Field on Friday and will conduct all operations virtually,” the team said in a statement Friday. “Contact-tracing protocols have commenced. and the team has returned to the league’s intensive protocols. This decision was made in consultation with the NFL and medical officials and does not affect the status of Sunday’s game. The health and safety of our team is our highest priority.”
The Falcons are scheduled to play the Broncos at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After one new positive COVID-19 test, the Falcons, who have had 10 players placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list and one coach test positive, shut down their facility Oct. 15.
“We’ve kind of been through this before,” Falcons interim coach Raheem Morris said. “We know what it looks like. The players are comfortable with it. The coaches are comfortable with it, and we’ll get a chance to still go out there and perform.”
The Falcons had started their virtual meetings before practice when the decision was made to keep the players away from the facility.
“(We wanted to) make sure we got all of the information to them as far as the mental things, the presentations and everything we need to do that way," Morris said. "Tomorrow we’ll come in, and hopefully if everything is well, we’ll start right with our walk-through.”
The Falcons also were the first team to have a player on the list during the 2020 season before there were outbreaks in Tennessee, New England, Oakland and San Francisco.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, in consultation with medical experts, determines when a club must follow the Post Exposure COVID procedures.
After the previous shutdown, the Falcons returned to the building that Friday and played their game against the Vikings in Minneapolis on Oct. 18.
“Friday is normally a shorter day anyway,” Morris said. "The guys would have been in right now about the head to practice, about to go out and play, do some different things. Then the afternoons are kind of your family time.
“This day will be a little bit easier than the Thursday we had. We are going through the same process.”
Three players – A.J. Terrell, Marlon Davidson and John Cominsky – were placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list since the start of the season.
After the Davidson, Cominsky and defensive line coach Jess Simpson cases, the Falcons were under a heightened level of protocols.
The league and the Falcons are hoping to avoid an outbreak such as the Titans had, which caused them not to play a game for 17 days.
The Falcons are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than to refer to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether a player is in quarantine or tested positive for COVID-19.
The trend of COVID-19 case getting higher around the nation is troublesome to the NFL.
“It’s getting more challenging over these next few weeks because the disease is spiking throughout the country,” Sills said recently.
Davidson, Cominsky, Terrell, safety Jamal Carter, fullback Keith Smith, safety Chris Cooper, rookie safety Jaylinn Hawkins, defensive tackle Tyeler Davison, quarterback Danny Etling and linebacker Foye Oluokun all served stints on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Etling later was released.
Falcons' next four games
Broncos at Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Bye week
Falcons at Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22
Raiders at Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29
Saints at Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6
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