Report: Broncos OL, Vikings LB Test Positive for COVID-19

A Denver Broncos offensive lineman and a Minnesota Vikings linebacker tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

Schefter also reported that Broncos head coach Vic Fangio told his team he was canceling practice Friday and holding virtual meetings instead even though the team was cleared to practice. The Broncos are expected to return to practice Saturday.

The Broncos are scheduled to host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET, while the Vikings are set for a road meeting with the Green Bay Packers at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, two members of the Broncos organization who came into close contact with the offensive lineman who tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating as well.

The Broncos are just a few weeks removed from their scheduled Week 5 game against the New England Patriots getting postponed until Week 6 after multiple Patriots players tested positive for COVID-19.

Denver cannot afford for another game to get moved to a future week since it already had its bye in Week 5 as a result of the Patriots postponement.

The Broncos' positive test comes on the heels of their Week 8 opponent, the Chargers, announcing Thursday that a player tested positive for COVID-19. The Chargers also had that player's close contacts self-isolate.

Sunday's game between Denver and L.A.—should it happen as scheduled—is significant since the winner will improve to 3-4 and get back into the AFC playoff race, while the loser will fall to 2-5 and be all alone in last place in the AFC West.

Like the Broncos and Chargers, the Vikings and Packers cannot afford to have their game postponed past Week 8 either since both teams have already had their bye.

The Vikings are off to a rough start this season at 1-5, but superstar running back Dalvin Cook may return Sunday after missing most of the past two games.

While Minnesota is last in the NFC North, the Packers lead the division at 5-1 and have looked like one the best teams in football thanks largely to the MVP-caliber play of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Either the Broncos vs. Chargers, Vikings vs. Packers or both could get pushed back to Monday or Tuesday if the teams are deemed unable to play Sunday due to COVID-19, which is a scenario that has occurred on a couple of occasions this season.

If it is determined that either game cannot be played in Week 8, however, it may require the NFL to add an 18th week to the regular season to account for makeups.