The New England Patriots have reportedly canceled Friday's practice due to another positive COVID-19 test.
A Patriots player reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 during the most recent round of testing, sources told ESPN. New England will reportedly await confirmation on a second positive test once results are available.
The Patriots are scheduled to face the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium on Sunday in a game that was initially set to take place in Week 5 prior to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the team.
Starting quarterback Cam Newton, starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore and practice squad defensive tackle Bill Murray all recently tested positive for COVID-19, which led to the Broncos-Patriots game initially being rescheduled from Sunday to Monday, before defensive lineman Byron Cowart tested positive last weekend, which postponed the game from Week 5 to Week 6.
The Patriots' Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs was also moved back one day after Newton's positive test. Gilmore started in the loss to the Chiefs and received news of his positive results test two days later.
Newton, Gilmore and Murray all returned to practice for the first time on Thursday and were each removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Friday's practice was scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. EST.
ESPN reports players had claimed to have only been inside the facility for weightlifting the past few days and all meetings were held virtually. The Patriots' facility was shut down from Sunday to Tuesday before players returned for conditioning on Wednesday and the team's first practice with pads on Thursday.