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According to reports from ESPN’s Field Yates and Adam Schefter, New England Patriots starting quarterback Cam Newton has tested positive for COVID-19, and will not play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
With Cam Newton out vs the #Chiefs due to a COVID-19 positive test, the #Patriots are expected to start Brian Hoyer vs KC whenever it is, sources say. Not a surprise, as he was the other QB active besides Newton.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2020
This will be the second time in four games that the Chiefs will have made preparations to face one quarterback and then have to face another after a last-minute change — although it won’t be quite as last minute as the change from Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert in the Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
When it comes to the game, this is likely to hurt the Patriots badly. Their backup quarterbacks are Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham. Hoyer is a 12-year veteran who is now on his third stint in New England. Stidham is a rookie who was expected to be the Patriots’ starter before they moved to acquire Newton the the offseason.
According to an official statement from the Patriots, no other members of the team tested positive on Saturday.
Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19. The player immediately entered self-quarantine. Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received point of care tests this morning and all were negative for COVID-19. We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled trip to Kansas City and game against the Chiefs. The health and safety of our team, as well as our opponent, are of highest priority.
Despite the initial negative tests, the game may still be postponed. As of this writing, the Patriots have yet to leave New England for Kansas City as they wait for more testing results and guidance from the league.
Patriots were scheduled to leave for KC at about 1 ET; trip now is on standby as they await more test results and guidance from the NFL.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 3, 2020
Earlier this week, the NFL postponed this week’s Titans-Steelers game due to a COVID outbreak within the Tennessee organization. While it was first thought that the game might be played on Monday or Tuesday night, on Saturday, we learned that the game now been rescheduled for Week 7 — while the Steelers-Ravens game originally scheduled for Week 7 has been moved to Week 8.
Obviously, this is a fluid situation. We will keep you posted.