Survivor always brings two alternates out to Fiji just in case. Every now and again, one of them winds up making the actual cast, usually because a player got sick or experienced some kind of unexpected issue prior to filming.

But then, for the first time ever, two players were sent home before the start of the game, which led to the alternates becoming actual contestants just hours before filming began. What caused the early dismissal of one male and one female contestant the day before the marooning?

“Survivor” is back for Season 49 — its final outing with new contestants before next spring’s landmark 50th season, which will feature a cast of returning players for the first time since 2020.