Patriots practice squad DT Bill Murray tests positive for COVID-19
By Adam Weinrib
Patriots DT Bill Murray has become the second member of the organization to test positive for COVID-19 this week.
Knowing what we know about the way COVID-19 spreads and infects, sometimes presenting itself for the first time after several days of relative calm, it was surprising that Patriots-Chiefs largely went on as scheduled this week.
Bumped only one day to Monday night after Patriots centerpiece Cam Newton registered a positive test on Saturday morning, the team “passed” several tests before splitting his close contacts onto a separate plane from the rest of the team and escorting both halves of the roster down the Pike to the airport.
Job well done by the NFL, right? The game occurred without Newton, the Patriots lost as anticipated, and the Titans, facing the league’s largest outbreak, got the break the Pats probably should’ve because their spread was worse than New England’s. Fair.
Well, on Tuesday, the virus reared its ugly head once again in the Patriots locker room, as UDFA DT Bill Murray became the second member of the roster to publicly test positive.
Patriots practice squad DT Bill Murray has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 6, 2020
Murray, signed back to the practice squad out of William & Mary this spring, is coming off a collegiate career of Murray had 19 sacks, 32 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and 10 blocked kicks.
He was a highly sought-after grinder entering the season, and the Pats were thankful to get him on their practice squad after a bit of a roster shuffle this summer.
The #Patriots are signing William & Mary DT Bill Murray, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2020
And before you make jokes and ask about his sense of humor, allow me to present his headshot. pic.twitter.com/nEqepYmmr5
Murray’s positive test, though, is worrisome, and cannot be treated as an isolated incident. In fact, it’s the reason we were so shocked that Monday’s game was completed, even with 36 hours of repeated supposed negative tests.
That’s simply not enough evidence that the spread was halted.
Not only the Patriots, but the Chiefs will have to now be monitored ahead of Week 5. Bill Belichick’s double mask was a cute display, but in a way, it made light of what remains a serious issue for New England moving forward. It’s far from over.
