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Should Ravens forfeit Sunday's fixture against Steelers? Fans divided as Lamar Jackson tests positive for Covid-19

The NFL site though said there is no change to the status of the rescheduled Week 12 clash. Meanwhile, Jackson joins close to eight players who have tested positive from the team

For the Baltimore Ravens, it is just a string of bad luck. Soon after it was announced that their Thursday Night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was moved to Sunday at 1.15 pm ET, the NFL officially announced that Quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Ravens tested positive for coronavirus further denting hopes of a possible game on Sunday, November 29. The move to push the game was made after the Ravens team was caught with a bad outbreak of the virus within the camp.

Offensive linemen Patrick Mekari and Matt Skura and defensive end Calais Campbell were added to the reserve/Covid-19 list on Wednesday and with Jackson now joining the list, the Ravens now have close to eight players on the list. According to the Baltimore Sun, the team was informed of the latest developments, and according to a source, the game is unlikely to be played.

These updates stirred up an avalanche of tweets as the internet discussed if the Ravens should forfeit the game to the Steelers. Some felt forfeiting was the best option. "If Goodell wants to protect the players then maybe he should make ravens forfeit. Maybe other teams will take this virus seriously or not f**k up," read one of the tweets.

"Ppl calling for the ravens to forfeit. Word on street dudes doesn't get paid for a forfeit. NFL players not missing no game check," shared one of the fans. For some fans, the option to forfeit was a no-brainer. "This decision is really simple tell John Harbaugh either play on Sunday or you forfeit the game the 49ers has been in a similar situation as the Ravens for like the last 4 weeks and you do not hear them making any excuses."

The dilemma was understandable. "The question now really becomes whether they can reschedule it or if we're looking at a forfeit. Forfeit would likely be the very very last option. But does the NFL want to create a Week 18 to play make-up games? Is that even fair? Tough decisions ahead for a lot of people," one of the fans remarked.

"It’s Either week 18, play with janitors and mailmen sunday or a forfeit. But of course the NFL wont let a team forfeit so their players Dont get No money and their favorite boy-toy lamar doesn’t get upset," a fan commented very sure that there were options for the NFL.

There were some who added their two cents to the no forfeiting part. "I don’t want a forfeit. I think they should play. A forfeit would be soft but I would much rather have a forfeit than have to play week 18 which I’m sure the NFL will do. Even as the 1 seed we still won’t get a bye week."

Jackson is the highest-profile player from the Ravens affected by the team’s outbreak. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the NFL will continue to monitor developments. The NFL site though said there is no change to the status of the rescheduled Week 12 clash. Pelissero added that practice-squad rookie Tyler Huntley and veteran QB Robert Griffin III were the healthy options with the latter most likely to slot in for Jackson.