Auburn down 5 starters after 2 new COVID-19 cases on team

Auburn is currently without five of its presumed starters and 10 players total in practice after two new COVID-19 cases within the team arose this week, head coach Gus Malzahn told reporters Saturday.

"As it gets closer (to the season opener Sept. 26), obviously that's a concern," Malzahn said.

Malzahn said he expects "all those guys" back for Auburn's opener at home against Kentucky.

Auburn's COVID-19 protocol calls for players who test positive to quarantine for 10 days, followed by a week-long reacclimation period before they can return to the team. Those who are quarantined because of contact tracing can't return to the team for 14 days.

Two weeks ago, Auburn missed four of five practices after nine players tested positive, forcing 16 total players into quarantine after close-contact tracing. The team had no new cases the following week but was still without the 16 players.

In accordance with SEC protocol, Auburn will begin testing its player three times a week Sunday.

"The big thing is, I think we’ve done an excellent job if you look at the last three weeks as far as the number of positives," Malzahn said. "The challenge is close contact. And that’s something that is a big emphasis for us, but I know that it’s a big emphasis for everything. That’s a challenge for everyone right now is close contacts. We’ve really educated our guys. We’ve told them what they’ve got to do. We’ve got to stay six feet away everywhere we're at. So I expect our guys to do that."

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