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95 NFL players have tested positive for coronavirus since the league began administering tests over the past 4 months ... but that number is expected to grow by the hundreds with increased testing, NFL sources tell TMZ Sports.

The NFL Players Association revealed the 95 positive tests on its website Tuesday -- and an NFLPA official tells us it's a cumulative number from when the league began testing players and staff 4 months ago.

We're told the number does not reflect the number of players who CURRENTLY have COVID.

Several players have tested positive since the pandemic began -- including Von Miller, Ezekiel Elliott and more. Those players are presumably negative by now.

But, the league has ramped up testing recently and our sources say the league is bracing for big numbers since the testing pool will likely consist of more than 2,000 people.

As one source puts it... "With players and staff starting to report and get tested, there’s the expectation that the number of positive tests will be in the hundreds."

The NFLPA also noted all 32 teams have submitted their Infectious Disease Emergency Response plans -- and 8 have already been approved by the NFLPA.

24 plans are still under review.

Teams must have their IDER plans approved before they are allowed to let more than 20 players into a team facility.

Russell Wilson says there's a chance he won't be allowed in the hospital room when Ciara gives birth to the couple's child later this summer ... saying COVID-19 might force him to sit out.

"That's what we don't know," the NFL superstar told fill-in host Joel McHale on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week. "That's kind of the crazy part of it."

Ciara is due to give birth to her and Russ' second child together in just a few weeks ... but Wilson says he still hasn't been given the OK to be in the room with her for the birth.

Unclear where Ciara will deliver the baby ... but the two have property in Southern California -- where coronavirus cases have continued to surge over the past few weeks.

If Wilson ain't allowed in, he says that's kind of an issue for the two ... because he says when Ciara gave birth to their first child together in 2017 -- she used him well in the room to get through it.

"I think she needs me in the hospital room," Wilson told McHale. "Last time she grabbed my hand, she almost broke my hand!"

Wilson added he's "hopeful" to get the green light to be in the room with the "Level Up" singer ... but he seems to understand the pandemic might not make that possible.

Poor Kirk Cousins!!

The Minnesota Vikings QB is the target of a new TikTok challenge ... with people clowning his throwing accuracy in hilarious videos -- and the clips are SAVAGE!!

The trend all began with the Vikings posting footage of Kirk rollin' out of the pocket and challenging social media users to "duet" the clip with them "catching" the pass.

The issue? Fans used the footage to troll the QB by pretending he overthrew them ... and the vids are laugh out loud funny!!!

Check out some of the most viral ones ... watch the dude in the blue tank top getting overthrown -- it's just impossible to not crack up!!

Other users also made fun of the throws in comical fashion ... and it's all seriously great.

Don't worry, we're sure Kirk's going to let this all roll off his back ... dude does have legit talent -- he just made the Pro Bowl last season.

And, if it really does affect him ... he's got a nearly $100 MILLION contract to fall back on with the Vikings.

The NBA courts for the 2020 season restart have been revealed ... and, as promised, feature a massive "Black Lives Matter" paint job front and center.

The league and the NBPA came up with the idea to display the message at all 3 arenas used inside the bubble ... as a way to show solidarity with the social justice movement.

Along with the BLM paint ... the sideline benches have been spread out to provide 6-feet of distancing for team staffers and players as a form of precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, commish Adam Silver previously suggested banning several coaches -- including Mike D'Antoni (69) and Gregg Popovich (71) -- from the sidelines due to their age ... but eventually scrapped the idea.

The NBA's set-up also features huge video boards and its "Whole New Game" slogan for the restart.

While no fans will be able to attend games, at least players have the chance to fill up some seats.

NFL star Michael Bennett is retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL -- and admits the COVID pandemic played a key role in his decision.

Don't get it twisted, Bennett's not retiring because of the virus -- but admits the lockdown forced him to think more about his life and his priorities.

And in the end, 34-year-old Bennett -- a Super Bowl champ and 3-time Pro Bowler -- told the New Yorker he wants to focus on his family, social justice and charity work.

"Retiring feels a little like death of self," Bennet said on IG ... "but I’m looking forward to the rebirth -- the opportunity to reimagine my purpose."

The defensive lineman wasn't just a beast on the field -- where he racked up 69.5 career sacks -- but he's been VERY active off of it.

He's already authored the book "Things That Make White People Uncomfortable" (which he's developing into a TV series) -- and co-hosts a podcast with his wife, Pele.

Bennett also works with various charity organizations including Athletes for Impact -- a network for pro athletes looking to give back to the community.

During his NFL career, Bennett made roughly $60 MILLION in contract money playing for the Seahawks Bucs, Patriots, Eagles and Cowboys -- not bad for an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M.

"I would like to thank my wife and children, who have sacrificed so much for me to succeed," Bennett said.

"I’m looking forward to supporting them the same way they have me these past 11 years. I have never been more at peace in my life."

The Washington NFL team is expected to hire sports anchor Julie Donaldson to lead its radio broadcast booth this upcoming season ... in what is believed to be a first for the league.

Donaldson -- a former reporter for NBC Sports Washington -- will replace longtime radio host Larry Michael, who abruptly stepped down from his gig when he was accused of inappropriate conduct toward employees.

The team will make Donaldson the senior VP of media ... putting her in charge of finding a replacement for Michael's play-by-play duties.

NBC Sports reports Donaldson will be in the booth during games ... but it's unclear what her role will be on game day.

Donaldson -- who also won Miss Florida USA in 2001 -- has been covering Washington sports since June 2010 ... and led pre-and-postgame shows for NBC Sports Washington.

There's a huge group of super powerful women teaming up to bring pro women's soccer to L.A. by 2022 ... including Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Eva Longoria and more!

The group is calling itself Angel City -- and they're working with the National Women's Soccer League to establish the city's first pro team.

The NWSL is the women's version of the MLS -- but they only have 9 teams throughout the country in cities like Portland, Orlando, Tacoma, etc.

But, the Angel City group claims there's heavy fan demand in Los Angeles ... and they're rallying together to get a team here, stat.

The lead investors are Portman, technology mogul Kara Nortman, gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Ohanian is married to Serena Williams -- who is part of a smaller investment group affiliated with the team which includes a TON of other big names.

Jessica Chastain, America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, Uzo Aduba and Lilly Singh are on board -- along with soccer legends Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Shannon Boxx and more.

"Today we take an exciting step by announcing the first women majority-owned and led ownership group," Portman said.

"I am thrilled by the opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles."

"Together, we aim to build not only a winning team on the field, but also to develop a passionately loyal fan base. We also hope to make a substantive impact on our community, committing to extending access to sports for young people in Los Angeles through our relationship with the LA84 Foundation."

"Sports are such a joyful way to bring people together, and this has the power to make tangible change for female athletes both in our community and in the professional sphere.”

So far, the organization has not announced a team name or logo -- but plan on releasing that info sometime soon.

The NFL is "likely" to allow players to wear special helmet decals in 2020 honoring victims of police brutality, racism or cops killed in the line of duty.

It's not a done deal yet, according to Front Office Sports ... but the league is working with the NFL Players Association to iron out the final details.

The decals will feature the initials of the person the player wants to honor -- for example "G.F." for George Floyd.

According to the report, the individual players will decide who they want to honor on their helmets -- it will not be mandated by the team.

So, in theory ... teams can have several different players with mismatched decals on their helmets.

"You might have one team with 15 different decals,” NFL Network's Steve Wyche told F.O.S.

Unclear if players will have to clear the name of the people they want to honor with the league before displaying ... but the report says, "tributes could range from African American victims of racism to police officers slain in the line of duty."

Wyche told F.O.S., the league and the P.A. are "still in discussions. But, this sounds like it’s going to happen."

This would be new ground for the NFL -- which has never allowed players to make individual statements on their helmets ... EVER.

"We're going to make sure we bring not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but 5-plus rings to Kansas City!"

K.C. Chiefs star Chris Jones did his best LeBron James impression Monday ... channeling the NBA superstar by guaranteeing multiple future championships for his team -- and it was all bold as hell!

The defensive lineman -- who just signed a MASSIVE 4-year, $85 MILLION extension to stay in K.C. -- was asked on 610 Sports Radio what his message would have been if he had been able to speak to fans at the Chiefs' Super Bowl parade in February.

That's when Jones said he would've gone all LeBron on the crowd ... and promised more parades in the future!!

"This is only the beginning," Jones said of what his speech would have entailed. "Be prepared to have another parade, and another parade, and another parade!"

Of course, 5-plus rings is unlikely ... Tom Brady's the only dude in history with that many -- and it took him 20 YEARS to get.

But, if anyone was going to do it in the near future ... it'd be the Chiefs.

They just locked up quarterback Patrick Mahomes for at least the next decade ... and they're returning nearly every other significant player from last season's Super Bowl roster.

In fact, when we spoke with star wideout Tyreek Hill about the squad ... he told us he was FIRED UP over the offense's potential in 2020.

WNBA superstar Skylar Diggins-Smith wants justice in her home state ... for the black man who's near-lynching was captured on video, so she's fired off a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr.

TMZ has obtained a copy of the letter Skylar and fellow Roc Nation client Yo Gotti sent to the Department of Justice regarding the case of Vauhxx Booker ... who was horrifyingly attacked over the Fourth of July weekend.

Video of the incident showed several white men pinning Vauhxx up against a tree and calling for someone to bring a noose for him. Passersby eventually intervened and convinced the men to release Vauhxx, and although state charges have been filed against the suspects ... Skylar and Gotti want the feds to get involved.

In the letter they write, "A violent racist racist attack such as this, additionally, is a federal crime." Additionally, they say the attempted lynching of Vauhxx, a civil rights activist, "demands your attention and your full efforts to guarantee that justice is done, by prosecuting the people who attacked Vauhxx Booker for their violent hate crime."

Skylar was born in South Bend, IN, and became a Notre Dame star hoops star. Both she and Gotti have enlisted Team Roc to throw some legal muscle -- attorney Joe Tacopina -- behind the fight to get justice for Vauhxx.

Senator Ted Cruz is doubling down on his attack of Mark Cuban and the NBA -- claiming the league SAYS it's all about social justice ... until it comes to China.

"When it comes to communist China, [the NBA makes] a crap ton of money from China so they silence everybody," Cruz said ... "They're not willing to say a word."

Cruz is referring to the NBA's 2019 dust-up with China -- when the country blackballed the league because Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey dared to tweet support for protestors in Hong Kong.

Cruz thinks the NBA doesn't really care about freedom or free speech -- because its leadership and top players have not publicly criticized the injustice in China the same way they've rallied together for social issues in the U.S.

"Show me an NBA player who's allowed to put 'Tiananmen Square' on the back of his jersey, then I'll be impressed with their commitment to free speech."

Cruz says Cuban's decision to stick up for his players -- while dismissing fans who are offended by the anthem protests -- is wrong and disrespectful.

"The answer is for the NBA to show one, one-billionth of the spinal fortitude they show kissing up to and apologizing for communist China."

Cruz -- wearing a Houston Rockets mask -- also said straight-up the anthem kneeling protests are disrespectful to police and military members ... despite people like Colin Kaepernick explaining it's only meant to spotlight social injustice and police brutality.

And, Cruz issued this warning to Cuban and the rest of league ... if you ignore anti-kneeling fans, you're going to pay the price.

Several S.F. Giants players and coaches -- including manager Gabe Kapler -- knelt for the national anthem Monday ... and Donald Trump took aim at them afterward, calling it all a "great disrespect."

Here's the deal ... before the Giants took on the A's in an exhibition match in Oakland, Kapler and a few others decided to kneel during the pregame song to protest social injustice.

One of the players involved in the demonstration was Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of legendary Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.

The MLB praised the Giants for the move ... defending the team on social media from critics and writing, "The players and coaches are using their platforms to peacefully protest."

When one Twitter user said the team should not politicize the game ... the MLB responded, "Supporting human rights is not political."

Giants brass also weighed in on the kneeling ... celebrating the team for the moves as well, with president Farhan Zaidi saying "we're proud of our players and staff."

"We support those who knelt to peacefully protest racial injustice and those who stood to express love of country," Zaidi said. "We do not see these as mutually exclusive sentiments and believe the freedom to express both is what our country is about."

But, just hours later, President Trump chimed in on Twitter ... and he was furious to see the kneeling protests return to sporting events.

"Looking forward to live sports," Trump said, "but any time I witness a player kneeling during the National Anthem, a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag, the game is over for me!"

Doesn't seem the comments are going to deter baseball players ... 'cause in San Diego on Monday night, Angels pitcher Keynan Middleton also took a knee and raised his fist during the anthem.

Breonna Taylor's mother tells TMZ Sports ... she's VERY aware of the NBA and WNBA stars who are constantly keeping the spotlight on her daughter's killing -- and she's hoping it finally leads to justice.

"Everyone raising their voices for justice are what keeps this family going each day," Tamika Palmer tells us.

"What is being done by the NBA and the WNBA is amazing. Now, it’s time for the attorney general to listen, to charge everyone responsible for Bree’s murder and to get overdue justice."

"Bree should be with us. The world was a better place with her."

Tamika is specifically referring to pro ballers like LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Tobias Harris, Dwight Howard, Kyrie Irving and more who have spoken out publicly to put pressure on Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to charge the police officers who shot and killed Breonna in March while executing a no-knock warrant.

In the WNBA, the entire league is wearing warm-up shirts with Breonna's name as a tribute.

And, get this ... Tamika was also involved in a zoom call over the weekend with more than 30 NBA players, according to family attorney Lonita Baker ... who tells us they all spoke about how to continue to use their platform to get results.

We're told Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony were just 2 of the players on the call -- and at one point, CP3 discussed how players were considering not playing this season to keep the focus on social justice issues.

Major news coming from the NBA on Monday -- the league announced there have been ZERO new coronavirus cases in Orlando since July 13.

Which means .... THE BUBBLE IS WORKING!!!

The Association says it tested all 346 players who are currently on the Disney World campus ... and each result came back negative.

Of course, the NBA has proven it ain't messing around when it comes to following the strict guidelines ... and even made Sacramento Kings player Richaun Holmes re-quarantine for 10 days after accidentally crossing the campus border to pick up some delivery food.

Some players like Memphis Grizzlies rookie star Ja Morant have expressed their displeasure with the league implementing a "hotline" to report people violating the bubble protocols ... saying it comes off as snitching.

But, hey ... ya can't argue with the results!!

It's gotta be a sigh of relief for Adam Silver and co. ... who hope to tip off the 8 regular season play-in games starting July 30.

Move over, Max Scherzer ... the Nats are now relying on Dr. Anthony Fauci to pump in a fastball on Opening Day -- the team says it's tapped the COVID-19 expert to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday!

It's a huge honor for Fauci ... the guy is a self-proclaimed Nationals superfan -- and WA team officials say they couldn't be happier he accepted their invite to help kick off their season this week.

"Dr. Fauci has been a true champion for our country during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout his distinguished career," the Nats said.

"So it is only fitting that we honor him as we kick off the 2020 season and defend our World Series Championship title."

Fauci will take the bump just minutes before the Nats host the New York Yankees at Nationals Park in D.C.

Unclear what Fauci's arm looks like from 60 feet, 6 inches ... but we ain't expecting any 50 Cent type shenanigans during the pregame ceremony.

Remember ... 79-year-old Fauci was quite the athlete back in the day -- running the point for Regis H.S. in NYC in 1958.

In fact, President Trump even praised Fauci's athletic ability a couple months ago at a White House briefing!

Lindsey Vonn and P.K. Subban ain't the only world-class athletes in the household ... 'cause the Olympic gold medalist is training her pooch to be a swimmer!!

The 35-year-old ski star threw on a bikini and hit the pool at her L.A. home Monday with her beloved puppy, Bear ... and it's an equal dose of adorable and super hot.

"Back to training Bear for the Olympics," Vonn said on Instagram. "He’s making progress, look out (Michael Phelps) 🏊‍♂️ #doggiepaddle."

Lindsey's other dog, Lucy, wasn't feeling the workout -- and watched the two train from the safety of dry land (Hey, not all of us can be superstar athletes).

Vonn and Bear have been working on their aquatic training for months ... and let's be honest. Bear has made some serious progress!

We see you, dog!

Lindsey and P.K. have been training like maniacs since the beginning of the pandemic ... despite P.K.'s NJ Devils not making the cut for the NHL restart.

As we previously reported, the NHL only invited the top 24 of its 31 teams to participate, which is set to begin on July 28.

Lindsey officially retired from pro skiing back in 2019 -- leaving as one of the greatest of all time -- but she's obviously keeping herself in insane shape because she's a beast and gym is life!