Roger Goodell discusses possibility of postponing NFL games due to COVID

COVID-19 issues have come up across the NFL this month. It’s led to questions about postponing games if the outbreaks continue.

Roger Goodell spoke about that on Wednesday, specifically about the Cleveland Browns vs. Las Vegas Raiders game on Saturday. After all, Cleveland has 18 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

It sounds like the game’s on.

“There has not been any discussion about that,” Goodell said about postponing the game, via Pro Football Talk. “We feel confident that with continuing changes and adaptions through our protocols that we can do that.”

Goodell also said the season will finish on time and ideally, there won’t be any adjustments to the schedule. He was also asked about what the criteria would be to postpone games.

“I don’t think we have something that we’ve set as a specific [number],” Goodell said. “You know one of the things we’ve really worked on is trying to give clubs flexibility. With respect to this, we have larger rosters. We have 16 practice squad players now. We’ve given our clubs with a lot more flexibility in respect of being able to move players off of that practice squad but always off the injured reserve. I think those things have allowed clubs to be able to make sure they’re maintaining the best competitive product out there.

“One of the things that amazes me about the season is how competitive the game is. … I think that’s a lot because of the flexibility and the ability for us to be able to manage pandemics, which we’ve been doing the last two seasons and doing at an incredibly high level as far as being competitive.”

Multiple NFL teams dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks

The Browns aren’t the only NFL team dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. The Washington Football Team also has 18 players on its reserve/COVID-19 list, including eight on Wednesday, and the Los Angeles Rams put 16 players into COVID protocols this week.

Seven teams — the Browns, Washington Football Team, Rams, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings — are in enhanced COVID-19 protocols, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. On Monday alone, the NFL placed 37 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Schefter reported.

Week 15 kicks off Thursday night when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers at 8:20 p.m. ET on FOX and the NFL Network. There are also two Saturday games this week — Cleveland vs. Las Vegas and the New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts.