Kevin Byard Placed on COVID-19 List by Titans; TEN on Bye for Week 13

Add the Tennessee Titans to the list of teams affected by the recent rise of COVID-19 cases in the NFL. 

Titans starting safety Kevin Byard was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, per team reporter Jim Wyatt. Tennessee is on a bye in Week 13 and will return to action Dec. 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It wasn't all bad news, as the Titans activated linebacker Joe Jones off the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Byard is Tennessee's most consistent defensive player and has not missed a game in his six-year career. The 2017 first-team All-Pro selection has started 83 straight regular-season games. He leads the team this season with five interceptions, 12 passes defended and two defensive touchdowns, and he ranks second with 64 tackles. 

The Titans selected Byard in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, and he has grown into one of the best safeties in the league. The Middle Tennessee product has 495 career tackles, 23 interceptions and 56 passes defended.

While it is unclear is Byard will be forced to miss any time, the uncertainty of his status comes at a tough time for Tennessee. The Titans have lost back-to-back games, most recently falling to the New England Patriots 36-13 on Sunday to drop to 8-4. The loss pushed Tennessee out of first place in the AFC.

If Byard were to miss time, sixth-year safety Matthias Farley will take his place. Farley has played in all 12 games this season and has 11 tackles with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.