The Giants will play the Bucs on Monday night after appearing to avoid a more widespread COVID-19 outbreak. Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Giants report no new positive COVID-19 tests; game vs. Bucs on

The upcoming "Monday Night Football" game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants appears safe to go on as scheduled following a brief coronavirus scare. 

New York placed offensive lineman Will Hernandez on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, and ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported that the 25-year-old tested positive for the virus. Out of caution, the Giants temporarily kept eight players and two coaches believed to have had contact with Hernandez home. 

On Friday, however, the Giants confirmed that individuals deemed "close contacts" are now back with the team and partaking in remote meetings. Practices were moved from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center to MetLife Stadium because of wet grounds. 

While Hernandez likely won't be available for Monday's game, the 1-6 Giants should be cleared to take the field for the prime-time contest. Neither the Giants nor Buccaneers have yet gone through bye weeks, so the NFL could've rescheduled the game for later in the fall, if necessary.

The league has, however, wished to maintain schedules, as they exist, whenever possible. 

It's the second consecutive week Tampa Bay had a game potentially threatened because of virus fears. Last week's Buccaneers-Las Vegas Raiders showdown was flexed from Sunday night to the afternoon and replaced by the Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals contest to ensure the NFL could fill the "Sunday Night Football" broadcast slot amid fears the Raiders wouldn't be able to play due to COVID-19 issues. 

Las Vegas ultimately took the field and lost to Tampa Bay 45-20.

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