Rams Game Delayed As COVID Tears Through Locker Rooms

LOS ANGELES, CA — Sunday's Los Angeles Rams game against the Seattle Seahawks is postponed until Tuesday as the squad grapples with more than two dozen COVID-19 cases.

It's not the only NFL game being postponed this week, and the Rams aren't the only Southern California sports team plagued with coronavirus outbreaks. A Ducks hockey game is being postponed and two UCLA men's basketball games were canceled this week amid outbreaks. The Lakers and the Kings have also reported cases this week.

The Rams game will still be played SoFi Stadium, the league announced Friday. The team on Friday added four more players the league's reserve/COVID list for a total of 29 players now on the list. The Rams players on the league's reserve/COVID list include starters such as Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rob Havenstein. The players added to the COVID list Friday included defensive back Grant Haley, tight end Tyler Higbee, linebacker Justin Lawler, guard Jamil Demby.

The league also postponed two other games because of COVID issues, with the Las Vegas Raiders-Cleveland Browns game scheduled for Saturday moved to Monday, and Sunday's scheduled game between the Washington Football Team and the Philadelphia Eagles rescheduled for Tuesday.

Kickoff for the rescheduled Seahawks-Rams game will be 4 p.m. Tuesday.

"We have made these schedule changes based on medical advice and after discussion with the NFLPA as we are seeing a new, highly transmissible form of the virus this week resulting in a substantial increase in cases across the league," the NFL announced in a statement.

Vaccinated players can return to the squad if they test negative twice at least 24 hours apart. Unvaccinated players must remain isolated for 10 days.

According to the Rams, tickets purchased for the originally scheduled Sunday game will still be honored for Tuesday's game. No refunds will be given, but fans who cannot make it are able to transfer, re-sell or donate their tickets on Account Manager.

Additionally, new rules announced by the Los Angeles County Department of Health for outdoor mega-events will be effective for the game. All attendees age 5 and older are required to provide proof of full vaccination, a negative COVID antigen test within 24 hours of the event, or a negative PCR test within 48 hours of the event.

The coronavirus pandemic is having a wide impact on Southland sports teams, with the UCLA men's basketball team in limbo after Saturday's game against North Carolina was canceled, and at least four Lakers including point guard Russell Westbrook in the NBA's COVID protocols.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.