Patriots’ cornerback Gilmore tests positive for COVID-19

The Patriots have a problem.

On Wednesday, cornerback Stephon Gilmore tested positive for COVID-19. The Patriots will have three players on the NFL’s COVID-19/Reserve list after Cam Newton tested positive Saturday and practice squad defensive lineman Bill Murray was placed on the list on Tuesday.

In a statement, Gilmore said that he has been asymptomatic.

"Thank you to everyone who has reached out since hearing about my positive COVID-19 test," Gilmore [...]

The Patriots have a problem.

On Wednesday, cornerback Stephon Gilmore tested positive for COVID-19. The Patriots will have three players on the NFL’s COVID-19/Reserve list after Cam Newton tested positive Saturday and practice squad defensive lineman Bill Murray was placed on the list on Tuesday.

In a statement, Gilmore said that he has been asymptomatic.

"Thank you to everyone who has reached out since hearing about my positive COVID-19 test," Gilmore wrote. "Your messages aren’t unseen and are greatly appreciated. I’m currently asymptomatic and will take this as it comes. I don’t know what to expect, but my spirit is high because of God. I’ve followed every protocol, yet it happened to me. Please be sure to take this seriously.

"The Gilly Lock is going to sit down until the medical professionals let me know it’s best to continue normal activity. Your wishes and prayers mean the world to me and my family."

The Patriots are acting quickly but their game this weekend against the Denver Broncos could be in jeopardy if more players test positive.

Following the news about Gilmore, the Patriots canceled Wednesday’S and Thursday’s practices. The team will hold virtual meetings instead. Player media interviews, set for Wednesday evening, were canceled. The same went for head coach Bill Belichick’s videoconference with the media, which was moved to Thursday morning. The team has yet to make a determination on what will occur Friday.

If this weekend’s game were to be played, the Patriots might have had only one practice to prepare for the Broncos as the team won’t enter the stadium over the next two days. That means their first and only practice would be held Friday, two days before kickoff.

Gilmore played all of the Patriots’ defensive snaps in their loss to Kansas City Monday night. He finished with three tackles and a forced fumble. According to multiple reports, however, Gilmore was one of the players who was in close contact with Newton the previous Friday. On that day, Newton was tested for the coronavirus in the morning and stayed in the building and practiced. Players didn’t learn of his positive result until Saturday morning.

The Patriots shut down Gillette Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. Players, coaches and staff were tested multiple times per day — a rapid test and one that’s sent to a lab. The NFL pushed the Patriots-Chiefs game back to Monday. On that day, players and coaches had more tests. With no positive results, the Patriots sent two planes to Kansas City on Monday morning. One plane held players who were in close contact with Newton. According to multiple reports, Gilmore was on that plane.

The Patriots’ cornerback is arguably the best player in Foxboro. He’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. This weekend, however, the decision by the Patriots to play him put his life, his family’s and those of other players and staff in jeopardy.

Gilmore rode on a bus on Monday morning to the airport and then got on a plane. That evening, he played football and shared a locker room with teammates, coaches and staff. When the game was over, he rode on the bus again and took another flight back to Massachusetts before getting on another bus to go back to the stadium.

For the Patriots and the NFL, this is terrible news.

As COVID-19 has shown, the incubation period can take longer than a few days.

The Patriots have provided examples of this. They had no positive test results on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. By Tuesday, a practice squad player, who didn’t travel to Kansas City, was placed on the COVID-19/Reserve list. On Wednesday, Gilmore tested positive after days of negative test results.

As has been the case in Tennessee, it’s unknown when the Patriots will be in the clear. The Titans, who were up to 20 positive test results by Monday, had players and coaches all test negative on Tuesday. They were set to reopen their practice facility the next day, but on Wednesday, the Titans saw two more positive tests and Tennessee kept its facility closed. This is after their game against Pittsburgh had been postponed.

The Patriots’ game against the Denver Broncos at 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Gillette Stadium is still on. If it happens, the Patriots are likely to be without their best defensive player in Gilmore and perhaps their best offensive player in Newton.

There is a chance that both could return, however, if everything goes right.

Under new NFL rules, players who test positive for COVID-19 may return if they’re asymptomatic after two negative tests in a row 24 hours apart, and if they receive doctors’ and NFL approval. The NFL revised its rule, which formerly had a player sit out at least five days. If the player shows symptoms, he would be out at least 10 days.

The Patriots’ bye week, scheduled for next week, could not come soon enough.

mdaniels@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @MarkDanielsPJ