Over the weekend, a rash of false positive COVID tests hit the NFL. A third of the league’s teams were affected, and the Green Bay Packers were among them as one of the teams whose testing is performed at the lab in question.
Thankfully, however, all of the positive results from the weekend have come back negative after a second examination, and all of the players whose tests showed a positive result were negative on their next tests. The situation led several of the teams to delay practices on Sunday, but most still ended up working — while the Packers actually stuck to their original schedule.
In that practice, rookie linebacker Kamal Martin continued to impress the Packers’ coaching staff. Martin, a fifth-round draft pick, is reportedly giving those coaches some tough decisions to make about playing time when the season rolls around; his length and athletic ability are showing up particularly in the passing game, and that would be a great help for this defense, which is looking for someone to step up next to Christian Kirksey.
Keep it here at APC for practice updates later this morning, as the Packers will be back on the field once again today.
Source -- All 77 of NFL's positive tests return negative | ESPN
Every positive test from Saturday that had the NFL on edge Sunday came back negative upon re-analysis, and each of the players who got a false positive tested negative in follow-up testing. That's obviously good news for all involved - except perhaps the lab, which has some questions to answer.
Matt LaFleur confirms Packers dealt with false positive COVID-19 tests | Packers Wire
The head coach said after Sunday's practice that the Packers were indeed one of the teams affected, but only a couple players were involved. That led the team to go ahead with practice as scheduled.
Packers' rookie Kamal Martin forcing coaches to consider him a starter | Packersnews.com (subscription)
Martin is pushing Oren Burks for the job next to Christian Kirksey, a great sign for the fifth-round pick. His athleticism is showing, something that the Packers were hoping to see after he was unable to test at the Combine in February.
Raven Greene, EQ St. Brown starting comeback seasons strong | Packers.com
These two third-year pros each lost most or all of last year to injury. Greene is reportedly playing a lot of deep safety in camp so far instead of his more in-the-box role from last year, but he says it's going well; meanwhile, EQ is trying to jockey for position in a crowded wide receiver room that desperately needs someone to stand out.
‘It is strange’: Behind the scenes of an unusual first week at Packers camp – The Athletic (subscription)
With the normal traditions and fan interactions all suspended, the first week of practice has been a strange one.
Ravens release S Earl Thomas for conduct detrimental | NFL.com
Thomas, the former All-Pro, is gone from Baltimore after his latest issue, a fight with his teammate in Friday's practice.
Man wins $1M thanks to favorite lottery ticket being sold out - UPI.com
A Michigan man cashed in on a seven-digit grand prize after missing out on his preferred ticket. If only we could all be so lucky.