The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
New York Jets rookie running back La’Mical Perine is being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Coach Adam Gase said Wednesday the team is conducting contact tracing among the other players and team staff.
“There haven’t been a lot of people around the last few days, player-wise, because of the rules,” Gase said, referring to the NFL’s intensive protocols for all teams. “But we have a lot to go through right now.”
Perine is the first Jets player to test positive this season.
“Not great timing,” Gase said. “I can say that.”
The Jets will be short-handed at the running back spot for their season finale at New England on Sunday. Frank Gore will be out with a bruised lung, leaving only Ty Johnson and Josh Adams as healthy players at the position. Gase sounded confident that neither Johnson nor Adams will be affected by Perine’s health situation.
Perine, a fourth-round pick out of Florida, returned last Sunday after missing four games with a high ankle sprain and had nine carries for 30 yards in New York’s 23-16 victory over Cleveland. He also had a 14-yard reception.
Perine, who missed the season opener after suffering a high ankle sprain in training camp, finishes with 232 yards on 64 carries and two touchdowns. He had 11 catches for 63 yards.
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The Cleveland Browns have two more positive COVID-19 cases — another player and a staff member — as they prepare for Sunday’s finale against the Steelers.
The team closed its facility on Wednesday after being informed of the test results. The Browns have not yet announced the identity of the player or added him to their COVID-19 reserve list.
The Browns already have nine players on the list, including their top four wide receivers. Those players and others are eligible to return Thursday as long as they test negative.
On Tuesday, safeties Andrew Sendejo, Karl Joseph and tight end Harrison Bryant were added to the list.
Cleveland (10-5) can make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 with a win over Pittsburgh (12-3) on Sunday.
Sendejo will miss the game, as will starting linebacker B.J. Goodson; they have to be out 10 days after testing positive.