Mizzou has seven active cases of COVID-19, two weeks from the season-opener

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

Following the team's third preseason scrimmage, Eli Drinkwitz said Mizzou has seven active cases of COVID-19 within the team.

The case total is up by three since September 8, when Drinkwitz said the team had four active cases.

After a positive test on Friday, the team said it will provide more updates closer to week one.

"We had a positive test yesterday that knocked out three players for quarantine and those guys will now be unavailable for the Alabama game," Drinkwitz said. "Any person positive or quarantined from this point on, is unavailable for the week one opponent."

Dealing with injuries is a normal part of any preseason camp, but Drinkwitz said COVID-19 is unlike anything he's ever seen.

"It's truly, I guess you could say, next man up mentality," he said. "Like I told our team, no body really cares about the excuses. They expect the performance."

The team added that it has put precautions in place throughout practices, but it still feels pretty normal.

"When we step on the field, except for when we have helmets off we try to put our neck gators on, be six feet apart, and our coaches wear their masks up, but it takes what it takes to be successful," Drink said. "We're going about it in the way that we feel is the best interest."

As far as the season is concerned, coach said he's already noticed one clear reaction from the fans.

"The fans really don't care, you know," he said. "I don't think any of the Kansas State fans or Iowa State fans are sitting around blaming COVID right now. They expect that when you compete, your team wins."

Mizzou football is exactly two weeks away from hosting the Crimson Tide.

Drinkwitz said that he and his staff are in the beginning stages of working out a game plan.

"Really tomorrow, Monday, and this week will be finalizing exactly what we want to do and rep it against the scout teams. Mainly see how this will look on the board and how it will look in real life," he said.

The message following the team's third scrimmage remained the same. The defense looked solid, while the offense needs work.

"We had three turnovers and a lot of sacks. We really got pressure on the quarterback," he said. "Offensively we are going to have to do a better job protecting the quarterback and the quarterback is going to have do a better job of throwing the football away. Tonight we just didn't get those done."