Titans' Mike Vrabel reveals he tested positive for COVID-19

.@Titans HC Mike Vrabel just said on a Zoom call he’s tested positive for COVID.

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) August 22, 2021

During his press conference on the day after the Tennessee Titans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Preseason Week 2, head coach Mike Vrabel revealed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Vrabel made the announcement during the Zoom presser, while also noting that he is dealing with an ear ache and sore throat. For now, Vrabel is in quarantine, but the plan is for him to get re-tested on Monday.

As far as how the Titans plan on running practices while Vrabel is out, the head coach says he is still trying to figure that out.

Vrabel mentioned special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman as somebody who could run things, as well as inside linebackers coach Jim Haslett and senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz, both of whom have head coach experience.

Mike Vrabel said he has tested positive for Covid-19. Said he had a sore throat and an earache.

— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) August 22, 2021

Vrabel said he will give it some thought today on who will be running the practices while he is out. Said he is comfortable with Craig Aukerman, also could rely on Jim Haslett and Jim Schwartz who have been head coaches.

— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) August 22, 2021

Vrabel isn’t ruling out a different approach, though.

Vrabel jokes he will yell at players from boat on Lake Amulet outside practice fields while he can’t be with them. “Team is a part of my family, a part of my heart, a part of my life.” #Titans

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 22, 2021

From here, Vrabel can re-enter the Titans’ facility if he registers two negative COVID-19 tests over the next 48 hours. If not, he’ll have to quarantine for 10 days, which will force him to miss the Preseason Week 3 contest against the Chicago Bears.

Vrabel says he’ll be able to re-enter #Titans facility if he has two negative tests in 48-hour span. Otherwise, he’s looking at a 10-day quarantine

— Ben Arthur (@benyarthur) August 22, 2021

Earlier in training camp, Titans general manager Jon Robinson revealed that the team was about 95 percent vaccinated. At the time that was among the highest vaccination rates in the NFL.