With the news that the NFL was postponing their upcoming game against the Titans Sunday to Monday of next week, the Steelers could have gotten upset by the way it changes their preparation not just for that game, but the following week, as well.
Instead, the Steelers are rolling with the punches.
Mike Tomlin had his team go through a normal Wednesday practice and continue to prepare for the game with the Titans (3-0), not matter when it might happen to come for the Steelers (3-0).
He'll worry about the team's game at Heinz Field Oct. 11 against the Eagles when the time comes.
"Right now, there’s a strong possibility that it is Monday, so that has been our focus as we prepared today," Tomlin said Wednesday after his team completed practice. "I’m not concerned with next week. We live one week at a time. We’ve got an undefeated team that we’re scheduled to face at the end of this week. That’s kind of been our focus as we prepared today."
Reports seem to suggest that will be the case.
CBS crew is being told #Steelers-#Titans will be Monday night.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 30, 2020
The NFL postponed Sunday's game earlier in the morning, announcing it would be played Monday or Tuesday, depending on COVID-19 testing results with the Titans. Tennessee had three players and five front office personnel test positive for the virus Monday after its game against the Vikings in Minnesota. Another player reportedly tested positive when Tuesday's test results were in early Wednesday morning, though his identity is not yet known.
The Titans won't be permitted meet as a group in person or hold a practice in their team facility until Saturday. But the Steelers aren't concerned with how much practice time the Titans receive in preparation for their meeting.
"We were told during training camp that this could happen if you’re not diligent, if you’re not careful," Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday morning.
"I don’t know what’s going on down there, so I’m not going to speak on them. I’m telling you what we were told. We were told there might be a situation if you weren’t careful and there were COVID issues here in Pittsburgh, we might not be able to practice until Friday or Saturday. It’s why they made the rule with more practice squad guys this year. We were made aware of those possibilities. I don’t want to say it is what it is, but that’s why the plan was put in place, to be prepared and why so many people here and down in Tennessee, too, in not going out and being reckless."
Titans' outside linebackers coach and defensive play caller Shane Bowen tested positive for COVID last Saturday and did not make the trip with the Titans to Minnesota. Monday, nose tackle DaQuan Jones, long-snapper Beau Brinkley and tight end Tommy Hudson -- as well as five other people on the Titans' staff -- tested positive. The three players were placed on the Reserve/COVID List and the Titans will be permitted to sign three players to take their places. It's a reason why the NFL expanded practice squads from 12 to 16 players this season. Linebacker Kamalei Correa also tested positive Wednesday and was placed on the COVID List.
Despite the uncertainty of the situation, the Steelers remain confident the NFL will handle the situation properly and ensure the safety of both teams.
"It’s no different. Everybody saw the situation that happened over the last couple of days," Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton said. "As a team, this is what we knew coming into this season. On our end, we’re going to do everything we can to stay healthy and stay safe. We’ll let everything else take care of itself. We’ll focus on getting prepared to facing the Titans."
On whatever day that might happen to be.
It's why during training camp, when teams were finally permitted to return to on-field activities after being shut down all offseason, Tomlin stressed to his players that if one person failed a test, they all failed it.
"I’m home schooling my kids. We’re not having guests over at the house," Roethlisberger said. "You have to do those things if you want to play the game on Sunday. We’re preparing to play a game on Sunday, like we should be. They need to prepare however they need to do it."
It has, however, caused the team to have conversations again, with coaches and players reminding each other of how they have to remain diligent and why they are doing so.
"That was one of the things that was preached before the season even started," Steelers defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt said. "A lot of guys have family members, a lot of guys have people, loved ones that they go back home to after they play this beautiful game. I think the NFL and the people around the NFL, the medical doctors are doing a tremendous job making sure each player gets tested every opportunity that they get. I think the NFL is going to do a good job. This is something to learn from. I’m very curious to see how this will be handled."
They're getting a better idea now.
The Steelers expect a decision by the league on exactly what day the game will be played by Thursday morning. And if the game is moved to Tuesday, giving them one less day to prepare to host the Eagles, they'll deal with the circumstances as they arise.
Overall safety remains the main focus.
"We’ve played on Sunday and turned around and played on Thursday. We’ve played in Monday night games. We’ve been down this road before," Hilton said. "We’ve got a coaching staff and a team that will stay focused not matter the game-week situation. We won’t let it take us off our focus, which is to go in there and try to get a W.
"It’s a tough situation. This who offseason, this is what teams were gearing up to prepare for. This is the first one that really had an outbreak. We know they’re going to do everything they can to keep it under control and every other team is going to stay positive and obey the protocol."