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Thursday 26 November 2020
Ravens-Steelers game moved from Thursday night to Sunday

By The Associated Press the NFL and country.
The Thanksgiving night "The guys are adapting,
game between the Ra- they're being flexible," Ste-
vens and Steelers has been fanski said. (Offensive co-
switched to Sunday be- ordinator) Coach Van Pelt
cause of coronavirus issues showed a picture of Stretch
with Baltimore. Armstrong this morning,
The NFL announced the and that's who we are, and
move Wednesday, but did that's who've got to be."
not specify a time of game Stefanski said top corner-
nor which network would back Denzel Ward, who
televise it. Previously, it was injured his calf against the
scheduled for NBC's prime- Eagles, could miss a couple
time telecast. of games with the latest
Baltimore placed outside injury to strike Cleveland's
linebacker Pernell McPhee secondary.
on the reserve/COVID-19, Ward picked off Carson
joining running backs Mark Wentz late in Sunday's win
Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and leads the league with
and defensive tackle Bran- 15 passes defensed. The
don Williams. The Ravens Browns have been without
also have been doing Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree (48) and linebacker T.J. Watt, right, celebrate a big play rookie safety Grant Delpit
team work virtually. against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, this season after he rup-
"We appreciate the NFL 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. tured an Achilles tendon
for its diligence in working Associated Press in training camp as well as
closely with us to ensure starting cornerback Greedy
the well-being of players, Steelers wide receiver JuJu practice as a precaution. defense in and have a simi- Williams, who remains side-
coaches and staff from Smith-Schuster wasn't ex- "This is just an unusual year lar schedule. So we'll space lined with a nerve injury in
both the Baltimore Ravens actly thrilled with the devel- when it comes to every- the two groups out." his shoulder.
and Pittsburgh Steelers or- opment. thing we have to do, that The Browns (7-3) already Other NFL teams are also
ganizations," the Ravens "First the NFL takes away everyone has to do. We have four players, includ- dealing with COVID-19.
said in a statement. our bye week because an- saw it early, obviously, with ing star defensive end Myl- The Jacksonville Jaguars
"Protecting the health and other team can't get their the Titans game, byes, all es Garrett on the reserve/ will be without three defen-
safety of each team, in ad- Covid situation together, these kinds of things," he COVID list. Garrett missed sive coaches this weekend
dition to our communities now they take away our said. "What are you going Sunday's win over Philadel- because of COVID-19 test-
at large, is of utmost impor- Thanksgiving primetime to do? You just have to do phia and he'll also sit out ing and contact tracing.
tance. We will continue to game for the same reason. what they tell you and go this week's game against Coach Doug Marrone
follow guidance from the Smh," he posted on social play ball." Also, the Cleve- the Jaguars (1-9). says defensive coordina-
NFL and its medical ex- media. land Browns were practic- Stefanski has not provided tor Todd Wash, defensive
perts, as we focus on safely The silver lining for Smith- ing in shifts and holding any specifics on Garrett's line coach Jason Rebrov-
resuming preparations for Schuster is that it gives him players out as a precaution condition, but said it's pos- ich and defensive assis-
Sunday's game." a few extra days for the while dealing with a new sible the 24-year-old who tant Dwayne Stukes will not
The game — assuming it right leg he tweaked during round of COVID-19 issues. has 9 1/2 sacks, could re- be available against the
is played on Sunday — a freak play in Jacksonville The team temporarily turn for the Dec. 6 game Browns. Rebrovich missed
means the Ravens will trade — when he twisted his leg closed its headquarters in against Tennessee. last week's game against
one short week for another. after stepping on a penalty Berea, Ohio, after another Cleveland's defense re- Pittsburgh because of
They are scheduled to play flag — to get ready for the yet-to-be identified player sponded without Garrett coronavirus protocols.
Dallas on Thursday, Dec. 3. Ravens. tested positive. The Browns and had five sacks, a safety Marron and assistant spe-
This isn't the first time the Coach Mike Tomlin has are conducting contact and returned an intercep- cial teams coordinator
Steelers have been forced praised his team's ability tracing to see if others play- tion for a touchdown in the Mike Mallory will run the de-
to adjust their schedule be- to stay light on its feet in ers were exposed to the in- 22-17 win over the Eagles. fense during practice this
cause of COVID-19 issues adapting to the COVID-19 fected player. Defensive end Olivier Ver- week.
with opponents. Their trip to pandemic as part of their In the meantime, coach non had three sacks — and On Sunday, secondary/
Nashville on Oct. 4 to face success. The Steelers were Kevin Stefanksi said prac- the safety — and was the safeties coach Joe Dana
the Titans turned into an un- hit with their own COVID-19 tice ahead of Sunday's AFC Defensive Player of the will call the defense and as-
expected bye week when scare earlier this month game at Jacksonville will Week. sistant linebackers coach
Tennessee was hit with an when tight end Vance Mc- be spaced out to reduce Stefanski said fullback Andy Tony Gilbert will coach the
outbreak. Donald tested positive fol- the risk of possible spread. Janovich and defensive defensive line. Assistant Ty-
The tweak forced the Steel- lowing a victory over Dal- Rain has forced the work- end Joe Jackson will also ler Wolf will take care of Gil-
ers to play 13 straight weeks las, forcing quarterback out to be held in the team's miss this week's game. Of- bert's responsibilities from
to end the regular season. Ben Roethlisberger and a indoor field house, which fensive lineman Chris Hub- the coaching booth.
They had hoped for at handful of teammates to is also being used as a bard has a chance to be And the Cincinnati Ben-
least a mini-break by play- self-quarantine before fac- weight room due to CO- activated from the COVID gals have added receiver
ing on Thanksgiving — the ing the Bengals. Roethlis- VID protocols. "We'll space list this week, Stefanski said. Auden Tate and offensive
franchise's first-ever home berger ended up playing this out a little bit," Stefan- This has been a steady, lineman B.J. Finney to the
game in Pittsburgh on the and throwing four touch- ski said. "We'll bring in the familiar pattern for the reserve/COVID-19 list. The
holiday — and then getting downs in an easy victory. offense, let them get a lift, Browns, who have had to team returned cornerback
the weekend off before Roethlisberger shrugged get them out on the field in shut down their headquar- Winston Rose to the prac-
starting the home stretch. on Tuesday when asked if the field house to work out, ters several times in the past tice squad from the CO-
Instead, they find them- it was right for the Steelers get an individual period few weeks to do contact VID-19 list. The Bengals host
selves adjusting on the fly to face the Ravens with- and move them around. tracing as the virus contin- the New York Giants on
once again. out Baltimore being able to And then we'll bring the ues to wreak havoc across Sunday.q