Report: Ravens discipline coach for COVID violations

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Ravens discipline strength and conditioning coach for COVID-19 violations

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 11/25/20

A Thanksgiving night AFC North showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers was postponed to Sunday afternoon due to COVID-19 issues affecting the Ravens.

Baltimore has since proactively taken action against one of its own.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero tweeted late Wednesday afternoon that the Ravens have disciplined a strength and conditioning coach for violations of the league's health and safety guidelines installed to prevent coronavirus outbreaks:

The #Ravens disciplined a strength and conditioning coach for not reporting symptoms and not consistently wearing a mask or tracking device, which may have contributed to the team's rash of COVID-19 cases, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 25, 2020

By proactively disciplining the coach, the #Ravens potentially could reduce or avoid discipline they face from the league over an outbreak that forced the postponement of the Thanksgiving night game against the #Steelers. https://t.co/HKxL5WrJ2u
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 25, 2020

The NFL has updated protocols throughout the campaign held amid the pandemic and threatened to strip draft picks or even force forfeits of games for violations that result in virus outbreaks. It's unknown if Baltimore's reported actions will stave off an investigation from the league and/or the NFL Players Association.

"The protocols do not implement themselves, and our progress thus far cannot lead us to complacency," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a memo sent to teams in October. "Complacency is our shared opponent."

The league has fined clubs and personnel for infractions but has not yet taken a draft selection away from a team.

Running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram are among multiple individuals associated with the Ravens who have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 since the team's overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.

More must-reads: