The Minnesota Vikings had 12 presumptive COVID-19 cases this weekend but are still planning on practicing Sunday afternoon.
Mike Zimmer said there were eight players, three staff members and one coach that presumptively tested positive, none of which will be at practice on Sunday. The tests tie back to the New Jersey lab that is currently under investigation for producing false positives for other teams around the NFL.
Zimmer addressed the media Sunday morning, and talked about the positive tests coming back now rather than during the regular season.
“Well honestly for us it’s probably good that it happened now because we were able to adjust and adapt and figure out the kind of things that would happen if it did happen during the season and what we would do from there,” Zimmer said. “If these all turn out negative, then there was a problem at the lab. Obviously if they’re positive then there might be a problem with the things we’re doing or other teams are doing.”
The Vikings still plan on practicing this afternoon, with the individuals that presumptively tested positive partaking in practice virtually.
With this happening on a Sunday just weeks before the regular season begins, it makes things extremely interesting. If this were to happen a month from now, the Vikings would be scrambling at figuring out how to play a game down eight players.