Tennessee Titans Schedule 2020: Bills' Game Up In Air, Texans, Steelers Upcoming Amid COVID Outbreak

A 12th Tennessee Titans’ player has tested positive for the coronavirus, likely altering the team’s schedule for a second straight week.

A coronavirus outbreak forced the postponement of Tennessee's Week 4 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, the Titans’ Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills is in jeopardy, too.

Since Sept. 24, there have been 23 members of the organization who have tested positive.

The NFL was able to move Tennessee’s bye to Week 3. The Titans were supposed to be idle in Week 7, but instead, they will host Pittsburgh on Oct. 25.

Postponing Sunday’s contest with Buffalo is more difficult. The Bills are scheduled to host the Kansas City Chiefs four nights later on “Thursday Night Football” to kick off the Week 6 schedule.

If the Titans don’t have any more positive tests, Sunday’s game could be played Monday or Tuesday, ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports. That might be the best-case scenario for Tennessee.

Tennessee is scheduled to host the Houston Texans on Oct. 18 in Week 6. Following their Week 7 matchup with Pittsburgh, the Titans are supposed to visit the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8. The Titans will host the Chicago Bears in Week 9.

Houston is winless, and Cincinnati only has one victory. Chicago might be the NFL’s worst 3-1 team. Both the Bills and Steelers are undefeated.

Already off to a 3-0 start, the Titans could have a clear path back to the playoffs.

One major issue with this game: The #Bills play Thursday night and the #Titans are out of byes. The NFL is reviewing and trying to figure out a way to play the game. So much up in the air. https://t.co/W4ezA4817e
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2020

This is another important reason this isn’t as easy as “Titans should forfeit!” Players don’t get paid for games canceled due to COVID. That means players on both teams. https://t.co/3KT6qh6wvP
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) October 8, 2020

There’s speculation that Tennessee will suffer its first loss before returning to the field, potentially forced to forfeit the game against the Bills. Titans’ players reportedly practiced together at a local school when the team facility was closed, violating NFL protocols.

The Titans reached the 2020 AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Since Ryan Tannehill became Tennessee’s starting quarterback in the middle of the 2019 season, the Titans have gone 8-2 in the regular season.

Tennessee has opened the season with victories over the Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings.

The Tennessee Titans and take the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

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