Mike Tomlin on potentially playing 13 straight games without a break: 'We do not care'

(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

The Steelers-Titans game will now be rescheduled to a date later in the season after a COVID-19 outbreak occurred in the Titans organization with five players and six personnel members tested positive. The game was originally scheduled for this Sunday in Nashville with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

This is an unusual year and everyone knew going into this season that a COVID-19 outbreak with a team could happen. That's why there are contingency plans and teams are on guard to adjust on the fly. However, it's still disappointing when a situation comes up unexpectedly which alters your preparation and schedule.

"I am disappointed because we were preparing to play and we're not getting an opportunity to," Tomlin said. "We understand the nature of this environment we are in, in 2020 and we are adjusting accordingly. There is disappointment. There is no question. We worked extremely hard at the beginning portion of this week in preparation for what we thought was an opportunity versus an undefeated team in their venue. You lean in on those opportunities. We are not getting an opportunity to do that.

"Instead we are getting a bye week, so we are going to make the best of that. We have every intention of getting appropriate rest and taking care of those that need to be mended in any way. More than anything just kicking back and gaining a little bit of perspective in terms of watching others work and we'll come in at the beginning of next week and lean in on Philadelphia."

The NFL has not announced yet when the Steelers-Titans game will be played, but Tomlin is focusing his attention to the next opponent in the Eagles.

"I am a tangible guy," Tomlin said. "The next tangible thing for us is the Philadelphia Eagles, so that is where my attentions are transitioning towards. I will let the people that handle that business focus on that."

Tomlin said it wasn't up to him when asked by the media if he thought the decision to reschedule the game for a later date was correct or not.

"My opinion does not matter," Tomlin said. "We take marching orders from the National Football League. We understand that they are acting in our collective best interest and I have a great deal of comfort in that."

With the NFL rescheduling the game, the Steelers could potentially play 13 straight games without a break, but Tomlin doesn't see that as an issue.

"We do not care," Tomlin said.