The Denver Broncos’ down against the New England Patriots has been moved from Sunday to Monday at 5 p.m. ET as a component of an ESPN doubleheader, the NFL declared Thursday.
The game was initially booked for Sunday – a 4:25 p.m. ET the opening shot – in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and the Broncos’ players were educated regarding the transition to Monday after Thursday evening’s training. The Patriots have not drilled and their office was shut both Wednesday and Thursday after quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Stephon Gilmore were moved to the group’s save/COVID-19 rundown.
While there were no new sure tests after Thursday early daytime’s trying, the Patriots (2-2) are avoiding potential risk and will keep on getting ready with virtual gatherings and no training again Friday, a group official revealed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Broncos (1-3) and Patriots (2-2) will play in the prior game Monday, just a brief time before the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints meet at 8:15 p.m. ET. Denver TV channel 9News originally announced the transition to Monday.
Mustangs protective end Shelby Harris disagreed with the planning change Thursday on Twitter.
“Why are we getting punished when we did nothing wrong,” Harris wrote. “Pats go on a bye next week and we are stuck on a short week playing the dolphins help it make sense.”
Prior Thursday, Broncos mentor Vic Fangio was inquired as to whether he had begun making possibility arrangements for the group if the game were moved to Monday.
“There’s not a lot of thought that has to go into it, you just adjust,” Fangio said. “We still would travel the day before and then just adjust our schedule the two or three days leading up to the game once we find out.
“… I think everybody wants the game to be played on time, as scheduled. We certainly do. But we understand with COVID that there’s going to be some improvising and adjusting that has to go on by everybody in the league at some point, and this would be our turn to be that adjuster. If they change it, we’ll adjust and be ready to go.”
Fangio was additionally inquired as to whether playing Monday would possibly help quarterback Drew Lock get back in the arrangement. Lock has not played since enduring a right (tossing) shoulder injury in the Broncos’ Week 2 misfortune to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lock rehearsed, on a restricted premise, unexpectedly this week, yet Fangio has said he won’t play in a game until the Broncos are sure Lock could endure a shot from a protector and not reinjure the shoulder.
“I don’t think 24 hours would make much of a difference in that case,” Fangio said.
Brett Rypien is relied upon to begin at quarterback for the Broncos.
