BREAKING: Cam Newton tests positive for Covid-19, Patriots-Chiefs postponed, Brian Hoyer to take over as starting quarterback

Update 10/3/2020: Patriots officially place Cam Newton on the Reserve/Covid-19 list

The New England Patriots have officially moved quarterback Cam Newton to their Reserve/Covid-19 list — the first member of the team to be placed there this season. Newton does now no longer count against the Patriots’ 53-man roster limit, although no corresponding moves were made on Saturday. The timeline for his eventual return, meanwhile, will depend on whether or not the 31-year-old develops any symptoms over the coming hours or days.

For more on Newton’s return timeline, please check out this story from earlier on Saturday.

Update 10/3/2020: Patriots’ facilities will remain closed at least through Sunday

In the aftermath of Cam Newton’s positive Coronavirus test, the New England Patriots have closed their facilities: according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the team’s players and staff will be away from Gillette Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

Update 10/3/2020: Brian Hoyer expected to take over as Patriots starting quarterback

With Cam Newton out for the New England Patriots’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs following his positive Covid-19 test, the expectation is that backup quarterback Brian Hoyer will take over as the team’s starting quarterback. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report this, although the news should not come as a surprise: Hoyer was the team’s QB2 ever since the start of the regular season, with Jarrett Stidham a game-day inactive each of the first three weeks.

Update 10/3/2020: Patriots’ game against Chiefs to be played on Monday or Tuesday

The NFL released a statement saying that the New England Patriots’ Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs will be played on either Monday or Tuesday:

The New England-Kansas City game scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday will be rescheduled to Monday or Tuesday after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.

In consultation with infectious disease experts, both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate multiple close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments. All decisions will be made with the health and safety of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration.

The second positive test mentioned is Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu.

Update 10/3/2020: Patriots’ game against Chiefs expected to be postponed

While the whole situation surrounding Cam Newton and the Patriots is evolving quickly, the expectation is that their game against the Kansas City Chiefs will be postponed: according to ESPN’s Field Yates, it seems unlikely that the game will take place on Sunday at 4:25pm. One possibility is to move the contest to Monday, another to move it back to later during the year while also adding some schedule gymnastics to fit it in.

Update 10/3/2020: Patriots have not left for Kansas City yet

Following Cam Newton’s positive Covid-19 test, the New England Patriots have not left for Kansas City just yet. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team’s flight, which was originally scheduled for 1 pm, has not yet left as the whole situation remains in flux. The team could leave later today or on Sunday, but everything — including a cancellation of the contest against the Chiefs — appears to be on the table at the moment.

Original story 10/3/2020: Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tests positive for Covid-19, out against the Chiefs

Entering Week 4 of the NFL regular season, the New England Patriots were one of just a few teams not to have one of their players test positive for the Coronavirus. As was announced by the club on Saturday, however, they now have a player take a positive test:

Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19. The player immediately entered self-quarantine. Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received point of care tests this morning and all were negative for COVID-19.

We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled trip to Kansas City and game against the Chiefs. The health and safety of our team, as well as our opponent, are of highest priority.

As first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Field Yates, the player in question is none other than the team’s starting quarterback: Cam Newton, who led one of the most productive offenses in the NFL for the first three weeks of the season, has tested positive for Covid-19 and is naturally out for the upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

How that contest will be affected by the positive test — both on and off the field — remains to be seen, but for now the situation remains fluid: the team is scheduled to leave New England for Kansas City at around 1 pm. Any changes have yet to be reported.

The Patriots’ backup quarterbacks are Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham on the 53-man roster, as well as Jake Dolegala on the practice squad.