Report: Chargers Cancel Practice After Player Tests Positive for COVID-19

A Los Angeles Chargers player has tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the team announced, resulting in that player and his close contacts being told to isolate.

The team noted the facility will remain open, with all meetings being held remotely. L.A. also canceled Thursday's practice, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

The 2-4 Chargers are scheduled to face the 2-4 Broncos on the road Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET in a battle of AFC West rivals.

It has been an eventful week for the Chargers, as multiple players and staff members, including rookie starting quarterback Justin Herbert, were evacuated from their homes Tuesday because of wildfires in Southern California, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Herbert and the other Chargers personnel who were evacuated were put up in hotels by the team, and Pelissero noted L.A.'s preparation for Week 8 against Denver was not impacted.

COVID-19 has already played a role in the shuffling of Denver's schedule, as it was supposed to face the New England Patriots in Week 5. That game was moved to Week 6, however, after multiple Patriots players tested positive.

As a result, the Broncos had their bye week moved up to Week 5, meaning they are in line to play 12 consecutive weeks to conclude their season.

Since the Broncos already had their schedule altered once and the Chargers had their bye in Week 6, the teams can ill afford for Sunday's game to be rescheduled beyond Week 8.

One possible solution if it is determined that the game cannot be played Sunday is to move it back to Monday or Tuesday, which has already been done on several occasions this season.

Anything beyond that would potentially force the NFL to add an 18th regular-season week, which could eliminate the extra week between the Super Bowl and the conference championship games.

Provided Sunday's game does occur as scheduled, it will be a big contest for both teams, as the winner will move to 3-4 and get back in the AFC playoff picture, while the loser will fall to 2-5 and be alone in last place in the division.