NFL statement on Hurricane Irma and Buccaneers at Dolphins: Game will not be played in Miami Sunday

The NFL has released a statement effectively postponing this Sunday’s game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins. The game will be played at a time and location still to be determined. The league has not ruled out playing the game on Sunday in a neutral location or making up the game at a later (Week 11 bye) date.

Hurricane Irma is expected to hit South Florida sometime over the weekend.

The full release from the league reads:

Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Irma on South Florida, the Miami Dolphins home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, will not be played in Miami on Sunday, the NFL announced today.

In the interest of public safety in light of the current state of emergency, the NFL, in consultation with state and local officials as well as both clubs, has decided that playing an NFL game in South Florida this week is not appropriate.

The league will continue to examine other options, including playing the game this Sunday at a neutral site or in Miami later this season, and will provide an update on that decision as soon as possible.