The NFL is preparing a COVID-19 contingency plan in which it temporarily promotes an official to work as a referee during the full slate of games Sunday, according to an NFL source.
The move is yet another twist in the league's effort to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of referees and other crew members have been sidelined this season by COVID-19 protocols, but the league has been able to cover for them with other contingency plans. In Week 15, for example, it assigned referee John Hussey to handle two games -- one on Thursday night, and one on Monday night -- to cover for referee Clay Martin.