First Bucs Players Test Positive for COVID-19 as Coronavirus Ransacks Florida
By Jerry Trotta
As the NFL moves beyond its makeshift virtual offseason programs and into a more hands-on preparation for training camp, players have recently started to be tested widely for the coronavirus.
It's long been expected that a flurry of positive diagnoses would follow the first round of testing, and that's already been realized as several players from the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys have contracted the virus.
This narrative continued into Saturday, as ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that at least two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players have tested positive.
At least two Buccaneers’ players now have tested positive for COVID-19, per sources. Earlier this week one Buccaneers’ coach tested positive and two other assistants were quarantined. So add Tampa to the growing list of teams and schools with positive COVID-19 tests.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 20, 2020
Florida has been hit tremendously hard by COVID-19 after authorizing the introductory phases of its re-opening process, and things don't appear to be letting up. The news comes just a few days after a Bucs assistant tested positive, which resulted in two other staff members being instructed to self-quarantine.
On Friday, Major League Baseball made the executive decision to shut down its Spring Training facilities in Florida and Arizona after the virus announced its presence within the Phillies and Blue Jays organizations.
Statement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers regarding COVID-19: pic.twitter.com/eMv2AAb8g4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 20, 2020
With the MLB, NBA and MLS headed to Florida for their respective restart operations, the recent spike of positive COVID-19 tests in the Sunshine State should sound the alarms of NFL fans.