Ravens-Steelers Thanksgiving Day game postponed to Sunday afternoon due to outbreak

The Ravens’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers has been postponed to Sunday afternoon amid a coronavirus outbreak, the NFL announced Wednesday.

Seven Ravens have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week. Running backs Mark Ingram II and J.K. Dobbins, defensive tackle Brandon Williams and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee had already been ruled out of Thursday’s game, and on Wednesday, the team added defensive end Calais Campbell and offensive linemen Patrick Mekari and Matt Skura to the list.

In previous weeks, quarterback Trace McSorley and cornerback Iman Marshall were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which indicates a player has either tested positive or is considered a “high-risk” close contact with an infected person.

Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh will be broadcast nationally at 1:15 p.m. on NBC.

"This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts," the NFL said in a statement.

It’s the first game the NFL has rescheduled since Week 7, when the league moved the Las Vegas Raiders-Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup out of its important Sunday night time slot “out of an abundance of caution” over COVID-19 concerns.

In early October, the Ravens' Week 7 game against the Steelers was postponed a week after a coronavirus outbreak in the NFL forced several schedule changes.

“We appreciate the NFL for its diligence in working closely with us to ensure the well-being of players, coaches and staff from both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations,” the Ravens said in a statement. “Protecting the health and safety of each team, in addition to our communities at large, is of utmost importance. We will continue to follow guidance from the NFL and its medical experts, as we focus on safely resuming preparations for Sunday’s game.”

This week’s postponement leaves the Ravens with a short turnaround next week. The team is scheduled to play the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 3, a week from Thursday. The Cowboys play the Washington Football Team on Thanksgiving, giving them a full week to recover and prepare.

The Ravens could be short-handed for that game, too. Under the NFL's coronavirus protocols, players who are asymptomatic after testing positive must self-quarantine for 10 days. Because Dobbins and Ingram had their positive tests taken Sunday, they wouldn't be cleared to return until next Wednesday, at the earliest.

Any players who returned positive tests after Sunday this week would be unable to play unless they test negative twice at least 24 hours apart.

This story will be updated.

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