Washington Football Team closes Ashburn sports training complex

Player tests positive for COVID-19

Published November 17, 2020 by Sydney Lake

As of mid-October, the Washington Football Team was playing home games amid empty seats at FedExField. The team closed the stadium to fans due to the pandemic. Photo courtesy Washington Football Team

The Washington Football Team announced Tuesday it would close its Inova Sports Performance Center in Ashburn after finding out that a player had tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday night.

The team has closed the sports complex where the team trains in Ashburn and has moved all meetings online scheduled for this week, according to a team statement. Washington Football Team players practice at the 121,000-square-foot facility in Ashburn. The sports complex was rebranded in 2017 to reflect a partnership between Falls Church-based Inova Health Systems and what was formerly known as the Redskins franchise.

Statement from the Washington Football Team: pic.twitter.com/LT48g5XJUN

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 17, 2020

“Last night we were made aware that a Washington player tested positive for COVID-19,” says a Washington Football Team statement released Tuesday morning. “The player immediately self-isolated and contact tracing data was evaluated. All of the player’s close contacts have been told to quarantine.” The team has not released the name of the player who tested positive.

The team most recently played an away game versus the Detroit Lions on Sunday. However, an unnamed source says the player was not with the 53-man team on Sunday, according to reports.

“We will continue to work closely with the NFL’s chief medical officer and follow the league’s guidance,” says a Washington Football Team statement. “The health and safety of our players, coaches and staff is our No. 1 priority.”

Washington Football Team President Jason Wright on Monday (prior to the reported positive COVID-19 case) announced that the team would not allow spectators at FedExField in light of a resurgence of cases in the Washington, D.C. area. This Sunday, the team is scheduled to play the Cincinnati Bengals at home.

“As we head into this week’s game, we are in the midst of COVID-19 resurgence in the area. I’m disappointed that this means we won’t have fans at the game against the Bengals, but we and our partners in the Prince George’s County government agree this is the most responsible decision we can make,” Wright said in a statement. “However, we know that you all will be there with the guys in spirit, and we will continue to work furiously on some of our business priorities.”

This story will be updated shortly.