:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69766412/1234820353.0.jpg)
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel announced Sunday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, which obviously raised some flags in Tampa given the fact that the Buccaneers had just hosted him and his team for two joint practices and Saturday night’s preseason game.
It was quickly pointed out that Vrabel had some face-to-face time with Bucs personnel—including head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Tom Brady—throughout the week and weekend, which was certainly cause for concern as Tampa Bay’s season opener against Dallas is just 17 days away.
Mike Vrabel spent quite a bit of time chatting with Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and his son Jack during joint practices this week. This is from @GeorgeWalkerIV of @Tennessean. Vrabel just announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be quarantining. pic.twitter.com/8CdKVJ4QKV
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 22, 2021
Asked after Monday’s practice about any current COVID-19 issues within the locker room, Arians did not seem to think there was any cause for concern:
“We’re good. We don’t have anything. No problems whatsoever.”
It may very well be too early to tell if the team will be affected by any fallout from Vrabel’s positive test, but this is at least good news early on in the week. Vrabel, who previously confirmed that he is vaccinated, said Sunday that he wasn’t aware of any other positive cases within the Tennessee organization.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine tweeted Sunday that the Bucs were in the process of contact tracing and determining whether or not anyone would be considered “high-risk close contacts” of Vrabel’s, but it would appear from Arians’ confident answer on Monday that the Bucs feel comfortable that there weren’t any. The head coach recently told the local media that his team would be 92% vaccinated by Aug. 13 and close to 100% by Week 1.