Jon Robinson on Titans' COVID-19 outbreak: 'I certainly wouldn’t wish this on any other GM'

NASHVILLE — Jon Robinson answered questions for nearly a half hour Monday in his first virtual press conference since the Titans’ COVID-19 outbreak.

Among the things the Titans general manager shared: His frequency of praying has increased over the last 10 days. He hopes this experience will help other NFL teams learn and stay safe. And: “I certainly don’t wish this on any other GM.”

The team has returned 24 positive tests since Sept. 24, including 13 players and 11 personnel. But only one team member, reportedly a defensive assistant, tested positive between Friday and Monday, leaving the Titans' Week 5 home game against the Buffalo Bills on track for Tuesday.

The NFL and NFLPA are continuing to investigate whether the Titans’ violated COVID-19 protocols. Robinson said he had no indication of when the investigation would be complete and findings would be revealed.

Robinson said the team should get additional players back Tuesday — practice squad defensive back Greg Mabin, long snapper Beau Brinkley and defensive lineman DaQuan Jones all have been activated off the COVID-19/reserve list — but others would remain on the list.

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The first hint that an outbreak could be on the horizon came on Sept. 26, the day before the Titans’ Week 3 game in Minnesota. Outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen tested positive that day and did not make the trip.

Robinson said the team immediately began contact tracing after Bowen returned his positive test.

“People that he had contact with, nobody had symptoms,” Robinson said. “So we moved forward.”

Extra busses to and from the airport were added both in Nashville and Minnesota for the trip, Robinson said, to further promote social distancing.

On Sept. 30, a day after the outbreak came to light and the team facility had closed, a group of Titans players gathered at Montgomery Bell Academy for an informal workout, MBA headmaster Brad Gioia confirmed to The Tennessean last week.

Robinson said there was communication between the Titans and the league on the morning of the outbreak and each of the next three mornings.

When pressed specifically about the workout at MBA, Robinson said: “I can't get into all the details until the league and PA make their determination.”

But that’s just one area the NFL and NFLPA are investigating. Another, according to an ESPN report, is the Titans’ mask wearing. Robinson said "there have been some inconsistences" there.

“I would say we’ve been fairly compliant. To say 100% would be a falsehood,” Robinson said before demonstrating a few improper ways mask have occasionally been worn around the team facility, including below the nose and under the chin.

What about the infected team members? Robinson said their symptoms have ranged from “nothing at all” to “a mild fever for 24 to 36 hours, some chills, couple of guys have had a cough. … But nobody serious enough, knock on wood, to require hospitalizations."

Since the outbreak, the Titans have been a sort of punching bag as players, former players, fans and even some media take shots at them for potential COVID-19 protocol violations — even before the investigation has concluded.

"We haven't had any punishments yet," Robinson said, "but it has been frustrating.

"I’m passionate that we do things the right way. There’s not a whole lot that’s important to me. The good Lord above, my family and this football team. That’s about it. And as many of you know, I have a personal stake in this thing. My oldest daughter, Taylor, has several auto-immune issues that she faces and we try to do everything we can to protect her and keep her safe because exposing her to this, it would be really, really serious for her."

The question that really appears to have caused Robinson introspection is: Was the outbreak preventable?

"I’ve racked my brain a lot trying to piece it together," Robinson said, "but I keep coming back to, we’re dealing with a microscopic bug that’s found its way into a lot of people, certainly in our country, and globally. …  All it takes is a small window of opportunity to find its way in and have an impact."