Vikings, Titans shut down facilities after Titans report 8 positive COVID tests

Josh Skluzacek

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The Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans have suspended their in-person club activities after positive COVID test results came back Tuesday morning.

The NFL and NFLPA said Tuesday morning that the Titans had three players and five personnel test positive for COVID-19. The Titans played the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday afternoon.

According to the NFL and NFLPA, both teams are suspending in-person activities immediately and are working with the league and infectious disease experts to contact trace, do additional testing and monitor any developments.

The Vikings confirmed in-person club activities will be suspended and TCO Performance Center will be closed on Wednesday.

Public health experts say close-contact sports, like football, have the potential to be super-spreader events for COVID-19.

Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard (31), inside linebacker Jayon Brown (55) and safety Amani Hooker (37) strip the ball from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Minneapolis.[AP Photo/Jim Mone]

"I think what would concern me about a football game or the way football is played commonly, there’s a lot of folks having to interact throughout the game in different ways, whether it’s with sports therapists or players hanging out together in locker rooms, there’s a lot of shared facilities," said Kumi Smith, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. "So even aside from the game itself, there’s a lot of folks who are mixing and coming into close contact with each other."

The Vikings issued a statement Tuesday morning saying no positive tests have been recorded at this time in the organization but facilities will be shut down in accordance with NFL protocols.