98.5 The Sports Hub staff report
Taking any and all additional precautions following starting quarterback Cam Newton’s positive COVID- 19 test, the New England Patriots will travel to Kansas City for a Sunday-turned-Monday meeting with the Chiefs on two separate planes.
From ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio:
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Patriots will travel in two planes. One will carry roughly 20 persons who have had close contact with Newton. The other will have the rest of the traveling party.
This is what the Patriots, who own both planes, did when they were ravaged by the flu ahead of their road game against the Texans last year, keeping the flu-ridden players on one plane, and away from the rest of the team.
It’s just another step to prevent a Titans-esque spread throughout the New England locker room, even after another day of negative tests from the team (and the Chiefs), setting the teams up for that Monday night matchup.
With Newton ruled out, the Patriots will likely lean on Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback for this head-to-head, and with Jarrett Stidham the expected backup after beginning his 2020 season with three straight inactives to his name.
The two-plane Patriots roll into Kansas City coming off a 36-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, while the Chiefs are still perfect at 3-0 after their Week 3 primetime victory over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
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