The Panthers will keep their players and coaches home from their practice facility Monday and Tuesday after a positive coronavirus test. The team is double-checking the result to ensure that, as was the case around the NFL last week, it was not a false positive.
The Bears played the Panthers on Sunday. Last week, Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, said the NFL has yet to experience a case of coronavirus transmission from one team to another on the field.
Friday, the Panthers put backup center Tyler Larsen on the reserve/COVID-19 list. They have been operating under league-mandated precautionary measures since a member of the Falcons, whom they played in Week 5, was put on the same list.
Players had to pass a point-of-care test to enter the practice facility, and then wear masks and gloves during practice. If the Panthers’ positive test is confirmed, the Bears might have to operate the same way this week.
The Bears have one player on the reserve/COVID-19 list: practice squad tackle Badara Traore, who took an Oct. 9 test that was positive. Offensive line coach Juan Castillo stayed home last week after coming into contact with a coronavirus-positive person in his personal life.