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Report: NFL shuts down Patriots' facility after new positive test

Boston Globe / Getty

The NFL shut down the New England Patriots' facility Sunday morning after COVID-19 tests revealed an additional positive result in the organization, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

It's a fourth positive test in the last eight days for the Patriots, and the third shutdown of the team facility in the last 10 days, according to Schefter. The result throws the status of the Patriots' Week 5 game vs. the Denver Broncos - scheduled to be played Monday at 5 p.m. ET - into question.

The Patriots re-opened their facility and held a walkthrough practice on Saturday after having worked remotely on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday following positive test results from cornerback Stephon Gilmore and practice squad defensive tackle Bill Murray.

The NFL plans to move ahead with Monday's game pending further testing, Schefter adds. That contest was initially scheduled for Sunday's slate, but pushed back a day due to factors related to Gilmore and Murray's test results.

On Oct. 3, starting quarterback Cam Newton became the first Patriots player to test positive for COVID-19 this season. He missed the team's Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and his test result required additional testing that led the NFL to push that game back from Sunday to Monday.

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