CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After placing a second player on the NFL's COVID-19 list in just a few days Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers delayed practice about 2 1/2 hours to conduct more testing.
Offensive lineman Chris Reed joined defensive back Derrek Thomas on the league's COVID list, which means they either tested positive, or has been in close contact with someone who may have been infected.
The team, which tests players and staff daily, decided to do a second round of point-of-care testing as a precaution, and took the practice field after 2 p.m., later than the original 11:50 a.m., start time.
Several notable Panthers did not practice, but the team is not allowed to say whether or not those absences were COVID-19 related.
League-wide, COVID-19 numbers have been low.
On Tuesday the NFL announced four confirmed positive tests out of the 23,279 it administered to players between Aug. 21-29.