Jaguars' Game vs. Lions Will Be Played After All Tests Return Negative for COVID

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced that Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at TIAA Bank Field will be played after all tests for COVID-19 returned negative. 

The Jaguars announced Saturday that they would work remotely after a member of their practice squad tested positive for COVID-19.

Jacksonville has been following the NFL's guidelines for contact tracing.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Jaguars are placing 12 practice squad players on the reserve/COVID-19 list: 

It's the Jags' first positive test since Sept. 5, per ESPN's Michael DiRocco.

Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone told reporters in late September, as the NFL was dealing with its first in-season outbreak of the coronavirus, it was important to reinforce the guidelines to the entire organization:

"I think that this is a great opportunity right now for all of us in this league, coaches, players, support staff, to remind ourselves, with a lot of these openings that are going on, of our awareness of once we're outside the building and what we're doing.

"Knowing that you test every single day, that doesn't mean that you're not going to be exposed to it because those tests don't come back until the evening, so that virus can incubate and go. I think it was a great opportunity. We took the beginning of our team meeting today and really re-emphasized that protocols that have been in place and hopefully something like this won't happen again."

While Jacksonville still had its bye available in Week 8 to help facilitate potential schedule changes, Detroit already had its bye last week. 

It's an issue the NFL will face in the coming months as teams use their byes and still attempt to remain on track to finish the regular season on the scheduled Jan. 3 end date.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars opened the regular season with an impressive 27-20 victory over the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts. They've dropped four straight games since, however, and are looking to get back on track against the 1-3 Lions.

Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in Jacksonville.