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Baltimore Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey tests positive for COVID-19

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has tested positive for COVID-19, one day after he played every defensive snap in Sunday's 28-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Humphrey announced his diagnosis on Twitter.

In a statement Monday, the Ravens said the infected player has begun to self-quarantine and the organization is now in the NFL's intensive protocol. The team has begun the process of contact tracing, according to the statement.

The Steelers' COVID-19 test results all came back negative Monday, the team announced.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he learned of Humphrey's positive test at 6 a.m. Monday and didn't know how the All-Pro cornerback was feeling. Baltimore will conduct players meetings virtually throughout the week but will practice starting Wednesday.

The Ravens (5-2) play at the Indianapolis Colts (5-2) on Sunday.

"We plan to have a great week of preparation and we plan to be ready to play game on Sunday," Harbaugh said.

Humphrey, 24, is the first Ravens player to test positive for the coronavirus during the season.

Last week, Humphrey missed practice Wednesday with an illness before practicing fully on Thursday and Friday. In Sunday's loss, he played all 53 defensive snaps and made four tackles.

Humphrey was allowed to return to practice because he tested negative throughout the week, according to Harbaugh.

"He followed all the protocols to a 'T' with that," Harbaugh said.

Humphrey has been the top playmaker on a defense that ranks No. 2 in points allowed (18.8 per game). He is known for punching the ball away from receivers, which has led to four forced fumbles (tied with the Browns' Myles Garrett for the league lead).

Humphrey has developed into one of the top shutdown cornerbacks in coverage as well. He has allowed a 52.6% completion rate since 2017, which ranks behind only reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore of the Patriots (49.8%), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Last month, Humphrey became the NFL's second-highest-paid cornerback when he signed a five-year, $97.5 million extension, which included a $20 million signing bonus.

This is the latest hit to Baltimore's secondary. The Ravens have lost two cornerbacks -- Tavon Young and Iman Marshall -- to season-ending knee injuries and will be without Anthony Averett (shoulder) for at least another four weeks.

The only other Ravens player to test positive was undrafted rookie Nigel Warrior, who was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list during the ramp-up period to training camp. Two weeks ago, starting nose tackle Brandon Williams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after coming in close contact with an infected person.

Harbaugh said none of his players have acted irresponsibly and he continues to trust them to be as safe as possible away from the team facility.

"Our guys, to my understanding, have basically gone home, gone to bed and gotten up and come to work," Harbaugh said. "They've done a great job of that. I really believe that. We talked a lot about it, and they talk to each other about it all the time -- no one more than Marlon. Marlon is all football, all the time. I think the thing we understand is that this can happen to any of us."