Just when you thought 2020 couldn't get any crazier, Adam Schefter dropped this gem on us: All the QBs on the Broncos' roster are ineligible to play Sunday against the Saints after being deemed high-risk, close contacts, sources tell ESPN.None were wearing masks at the time of exposure, per source.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2020Schefter must have taken a screenwriting class at some point in his career, because this is “conflict escalation” at its highest form. This is not a drill. Because Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles have all been in close contact with teammate Jeff Driskel, who tested positive for COVID earlier this week, none of the three are eligible to play against New Orleans in Week 12. With kickoff slated for 4:05 PM ET, a free agent wouldn’t be able to pass the NFL’s COVID protocol in time to suit up. That means we won’t be seeing Colin Kaepernick or any of the league’s other available talent (Cody Kessler and former Broncos seventh-round pick Chad Kelly are both waiting by the phone) Sunday at Mile High. Further complicating matters, the Broncos and Saints have each used their bye weeks, rendering Sunday’s game impossible to reschedule. This leaves the Broncos with three wholly unappealing options. The first of these would be to forfeit, which Schefter has already acknowledged as unlikely. When the Titans were in a similar bind against Buffalo earlier this year, the Bills resisted because, tempting as it may have been to take the W, players don’t get paid when their opponent forfeits. Another option would be for coach Vic Fangio to employ a run-heavy scheme—perhaps one resembling Navy’s famous “Triple Option”—featuring Royce Freeman as a wildcat quarterback. That wouldn’t be all that different from the offense New Orleans has been favoring of late with gadget player Taysom Hill filling in for injured starter Drew Brees. Broncos will not be forfeiting, per source.Short of luring GM John Elway out of retirement, it sets up as the most unexpected NFL scene of 2020. Broncos have no QBs for a game against the Saints. https://t.co/ig4knEI9vQ— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2020But the most likely scenario is that Kendall Hinton, who began his Wake Forest tenure at quarterback before making the switch to slot receiver, will be elevated from the Broncos’ practice squad and receive the bulk of Denver’s quarterback snaps against the Saints. #Broncos WR Kendall Hinton will play plenty at QB tomorrow, source said. 2020! He did play QB for a few years at Wake Forest.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2020We knew playing through a pandemic would pose challenges, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted we’d see Hill, who was classified as a tight end on fantasy platforms as recently as last week, going toe-to-toe with Hinton in a regular-season game. Jerry Jeudy, for one, is looking forward to tomorrow’s anarchy. Former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, who was lost to a season-ending ankle injury, has also volunteered as tribute should the Broncos need an extra body. Guess ima have to get my Lamar Jackson on— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) November 28, 2020Been waiting my whole life for this moment! “Von ELWAY”. Ima passing QB don’t need to run much! Ankle is good for QB pic.twitter.com/Kc3ww0fOkp— Von Miller (@VonMiller) November 28, 2020In the strangest NFL season of our lifetime, Week 12 is setting the insanity bar awfully high. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

Maybe the Big Ten had it right the first time. Over the summer, when the fate of the upcoming 2020 season was still anyone’s guess, the Big Ten joined the Pac-12 in scrapping its fall football schedule. Both conferences eventually reversed course, electing to stage condensed seasons beginning in late October/early November. What’s ensued has been a month of scheduling Hell with schools experiencing mass cancellations amid rising COVID cases. The Big Ten probably should have seen this spike coming—the football calendar just so happens to coincide with flu season. But alas, the damage has already been done with 18th-ranked Wisconsin now ineligible for the Big Ten Championship after having three of its games canceled including Saturday’s highly anticipated matchup with Minnesota. No Paul Bunyan Axe will be awarded this year with much of the Minnesota team under quarantine following a rash of positive tests. Big Ten rules specify that in order to be eligible for the conference championship, a school must compete in at least six conference games. With only two games remaining—Wisconsin hosts 12th-ranked Indiana next Saturday before closing out its Big Ten slate at Iowa the following week—the 2-1 Badgers will max out at five conference games, barring further cancellations. Undefeated Ohio State, ranked third nationally behind only Alabama (who is set to square off with in-state rival Auburn in Saturday’s Iron Bowl) and Notre Dame, is also in danger of not playing enough games to qualify for next month’s Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes have had two of their last three games called off due to COVID including Saturday’s showdown with Illinois, leaving the reigning Big Ten champs in a precarious position. If either of Ohio State’s final two games against Michigan and Michigan State are canceled, the 4-0 Buckeyes will join Wisconsin in falling short of the required six games for conference championship eligibility. Ohio State could, in that scenario, still qualify for the four-team College Football Playoff, assuming OSU remains undefeated. Ohio State-Illinois is canceled. If the Michigan State or Michigan game is canceled, the Buckeyes will not be eligible for the Big Ten championship game.— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) November 28, 2020With team activities in Columbus paused indefinitely—head coach Ryan Day was among several Buckeyes to test positive for the virus—Ohio State finds itself in a race against the clock, needing enough healthy bodies to ensure next week’s game at Michigan State goes on as scheduled. If the Buckeyes fail to reach the six-game minimum, Indiana would be the favorite to take their place in December 19th’s Big Ten title game at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Hoosiers would likely be opposed by undefeated Northwestern. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

The Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, but there are now question marks surrounding the AFC North clash after the Ravens reported “multiple” cases of COVID-19 in their organization. According to one report, four of the cases are players. The Ravens' official statement detailed their plan of action and what's to come: “Late last night, we were informed that multiple members of the Baltimore Ravens organization tested positive for COVID-19, and those individuals immediately began to self-quarantine.” The Ravens say they are performing contact tracing at this time and their practice facility will be closed with “all team activities conducted virtually.” “We will continue to work closely with and follow guidance from the NFL, team doctors and our medical trainers," the team concluded. Statement from the Baltimore Ravens: pic.twitter.com/2J3zWytk8i— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 23, 2020Incubation time for coronavirus is sometime between 1 to 14 days with the median time frame of 4-5 days. With contact tracing being performed, it is also not known how many, if any additional players or staff will be added to their Reserve/COVID list. The Steelers are set to host the Ravens at Heinz Field in three days on Thanksgiving night. Earlier this month, cornerback Marlon Humphrey tested positive for the virus and several members of the Ravens team had to go on the Reserve list for five days before being cleared. This week, however, there obviously isn’t enough time for any players to clear that list. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

The 49ers announced that the team will open the season without fans in a Tuesday morning press release. The NFC champs begin the season on Sept. 13, hosting the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. The team has left open the possibility that fans could be welcomed back later in the season. Here is part of the 49ers' press release: "Last month, we informed 49ers season ticket members of our expectation to start the 2020 NFL season without fans at Levi’s Stadium due to the continuing COVID-19 health emergency and accompanying government restrictions. Through ongoing dialogue with State and Santa Clara County officials, and in accordance with public health guidelines, we can confirm that we will begin our season on September 13th against the Arizona Cardinals without fans in attendance. We will continue to work with State and County officials regarding the potential to welcome the Faithful back to Levi’s Stadium later this season."