NFL makes wholesale changes to Dolphins’ schedule after Patriots’ COVID-19 outbreak
The Miami Dolphins’ Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos has been postponed due to the New England Patriots’ COVID-19 outbreak.
The rescheduled date: Nov. 22, which was the Dolphins’ original bye.
But the Dolphins will have a game this coming weekend. The NFL moved the team’s Nov. 15 home game against the Jets to Oct. 18. That game will kick off at 4:05 p.m.
The Dolphins’ new bye is Week 7 — when they were supposed to host the Chargers, but that game will now be Week 10 (Nov. 15, also 4:05 p.m.).
The moves are a result of the Patriots’ ongoing COVID-19 issue within their locker room.
New England was supposed to play the Broncos this week, but the game was first delayed from Sunday to Monday, and then pushed back again Sunday morning when it was learned that yet another player had tested positive during Saturday’s round of testing.
The Dolphins, who play on the road against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday afternoon, have not had a player placed on the league’s reserve/COVID-19 list in weeks.
Once teams get past their bye, there becomes no margin for error, schedule-wise, for them or their opponents — without going to an 18th week (or simply canceling games).
▪ Injury updates for the Niners: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) will start against the Dolphins and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (illness) and running back Raheem Mostert (knee) are expected to play.
This story was originally published October 11, 2020 at 9:44 AM.
