A surge in COVID-19 situations all through the NFL and United States as an entire has resulted throughout the postponement of quite a lot of Week 15 games.

The league launched Friday that Saturday’s recreation between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns has been moved to Monday, whereas Sunday’s conferences between the Washington Football Team and the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams have been moved to Tuesday.

Raiders-Browns will air solely at 5 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Washington-Eagles and Seahawks-Rams will air at 7 p.m. ET on FOX.

“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 across the league,” the NFL launched in an announcement.

“We continue to make decisions in consultation with medical experts to ensure the health and safety of the NFL community.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell despatched a memo to all 32 groups explaining Friday’s modifications to the schedule.

“The emergence of the Omicron variant is precisely the kind of change that warrants a flexible response,” Goodell wrote in a memo obtained by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Cleveland has seen a significant amount of optimistic COVID-19 situations as a result of it lastly took the sector Sunday, with better than 20 players at current on the reserve/COVID-19 guidelines. Backup quarterback Case Keenum joined starter Baker Mayfield on the guidelines after testing constructive Thursday. Nick Mullenswill start for the Browns if neither Mayfield or Keenum can return from the reserve/COVID-19 guidelines in time for a recreation that will now occur Monday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and working backs coach Ryan Cordell are moreover at current unavailable because of COVID-19.

The Los Angeles Rams are additionally coping with a major COVID-19 outbreak, placing 9 players on the reserve/COVID-19 guidelines on Thursday to hold their entire of players on the guidelines to 21, with 4 further on the apply squad reserve/COVID-19 guidelines. Linebacker Von Miller was primarily essentially the most notable addition Thursday. L.A. then added 4 further players to their COVID guidelines Friday.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey missed Monday evening time’s win over the Cardinals due to a optimistic test. Receiver Odell Beckham landed on the guidelines Tuesday.

Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke ended up on the reserve/COVID-19 record Friday following a optimistic test. Backup Kyle Allen is already on the reserve/COVID-19 guidelines, prompting Washington to sign Garrett Gilbert off the Patriots’ apply squad. Washington moreover signed Jordan Ta’amu to the apply squad this week, the place he joined Kyle Shurmur, the anticipated starter if Heinicke and Allen are unable to play Tuesday. The Football Team at current has better than 20 players in COVID-19 protocol.

The NFL on Thursday introduced up to date protocols, which embody completely vaccinated players being allowed to return from quarantine a day after testing optimistic supplied they produce two unfavorable exams inside 24 hours and are moreover asymptomatic.

The updated protocols moreover included modifications to interaction between coaches, players and others in crew companies, prohibiting in-person conferences for Tier 1 and Tier 2 folks (along with coaches and players) besides they’re held outside or throughout the crew’s apply bubble with bodily distancing included. Masking will be required indoors for all players and staff, along with throughout the weight room, irrespective of vaccination standing. Restrictions on train open air the facility have moreover elevated, prohibiting Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 staff and players from public appearances or team- or player-organized charity events and gathering in groups of better than three folks open air of the facility.

The updated protocols received right here as a response to a change throughout the COVID-19 panorama and are supposed to “address the increase in cases and the advent of the Omicron variant.” NFL Network’s Judy Battista reported Wednesday over a three-day span. thard social gathering had been positioned on the reserve/COVID-19 guidelines on Friday alone. The continued improve in placement of players on the reserve/COVID-19 guidelines shows this spike in optimistic exams.