Cardinals, 49ers to continue as scheduled despite unhealthy air quality
By Mike Luciano
The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers will play despite poor air quality.
Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals taking on Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers was supposed to be one of the best games on the Week 1 slate, but calls to postpone or move the game due to the wildfires in California destroying the air quality have picked up steam recently. However, the league is determined to push on despite the adverse conditions.
While the air quality in the Bay Area has fluctuated between 140 and 160 today, it doesn’t meet the NFL-mandated threshold of 200 that would force a postponement or cancelation. Therefore, Arizona and San Francisco will play as scheduled.
Despite major air quality concerns in the Bay Area, the game between the 49ers and Cardinals remains on at its scheduled time for today, per sources. Air quality index needs to be at or above 200 for NFL to shift game; it’s currently at about 170.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2020
Santa Clara’s air quality is still unhealthy for sensitive players on the Cardinals and 49ers
Concerns about the Los Angeles Rams playing on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys were nullified by the fact the Rams will play indoors. The Seattle Seahawks are on the road in Atlanta to kick off the 2020 season.
The AQI classifies anything below 50 on their index as ideal air quality, while anything above 100 can cause health problems for sensitive groups. The Bay Area going over 150 on this index means that “some members of the general public may experience health effects.”
As a result of this development, 49ers running back Tevin Coleman is considering not playing today, citing both concerns about the air quality and a pre-existing health condition that could worsen if he plays a game when the air quality is this poor.
49ers still uncertain whether RB Tevin Coleman will play today against Arizona due to a combo of a pre-existing health condition and the air quality in the Bay Area, per sources. Decision belongs to Coleman and, as one source said today, "so much is fluid with this situation."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2020
As if dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t already difficult enough for the league, they now have to consider if playing games in California while the air quality remains at dangerous levels is the right strategy. Despite legitimate medical concerns related to this game, San Francisco and Arizona will kick off 2020 while being choked by California’s noxious air.
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