Thanksgiving Ravens-Steelers game postponed due to coronavirus concerns

The country will have one fewer professional football game to watch on Thanksgiving this year. 

Thursday night’s prime-time showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers was postponed by the NFL on Wednesday. 

The postponement came after several players and staff members on the Ravens were placed on the league’s COVID-19 Reserve List — a designation for players or team employees who have either tested positive or been identified as “high risk” for spreading the virus due to close contact with someone who has tested positive. 

Thursday’s game between the two AFC North teams had been set for prime time on NBC. 

Our game at the Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled for Thursday, November 26 has been moved to Sunday afternoon, November 29.

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 25, 2020

The #Ravens had 7 players positive in 3 days, including most recently: Matt Skura, Pat Makari and Calais Campbell, plus several coaches and their top 2 RBs. Commissioner Roger Goodell made the decision with health and safety in mind.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 25, 2020

As of Wednesday afternoon, two NFL games were still slated to be played on Thanksgiving Day: a clash between the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans at Ford Field just after noon and a late-afternoon meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Football Team. 

Several NFL games this season have been forced into postponement or cancellation due to public health concerns stemming from the pandemic. The league said Thursday’s Ravens-Steelers game would instead be played Sunday at a time to be announced later Wednesday.