NFL to increase COVID-19 testing
Fully vaccinated players will be required to get tested for COVID-19 weekly instead of every 14 days as part of the revised protocols for the regular season agreed upon by the NFL and NFLPA.
The weekly testing applies also for fully vaccinated Tier 1 and 2 staff. There’s an option for a second test for those who want it, according to a memo sent to clubs and obtained by The AP on Monday.
Fully vaccinated individuals don’t need to wait for results prior to entering a team’s facility. Each club must conduct its testing over a three-day period.
Unvaccinated players will continue to be tested daily.
Each team’s non-player traveling party will be reduced to a maximum of 75 people. Masks must be worn during travel, eating “should be kept to a minimum” and seating will be assigned.
Also, public transportation is prohibited for everyone in the traveling party and unvaccinated players or staff may not use private transportation.
Last week, the NFL said 93% of players are vaccinated.
Carson Wentz’s big week was cut short when the Colts put three starters including their top QB on the reserve/covid19 list. Wentz, C Ryan Kelly and WR Zach Pascal join two-time Pro Bowl LT Eric Fisher on the sideline because of health and safety protocols. Fisher tested positive for the virus last week. Three-time All-pro G Quenton Nelson was activated after multiple negative tests. Nelson was deemed a close contact to Fisher. Coach Frank Reich planned to use this week to test Wentz and Nelson, who both had foot surgery to remove a bone fragment. Both did limited work three straight days last week and were cleared for full action this week. COVID19 has been a concern for the Colts, who have consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in vaccination rates. Reich’s most recent update was that about 75% of players had been vaccinated . ... 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced that rookie QB Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, will miss about a week after suffering a “small chip fracture” in his right thumb after jamming it into an opponent’s helmet during Sunday’s preseason game against the Raiders . ... The Lions released WR Breshad Perriman five months after signing the 27-year-old to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
College football: Miami S Avantae Williams is back on the roster following the dropping of battery charges, though the Hurricanes say the second-year freshman will not make his on-field debut until the second half of the season at the earliest.
Hockey: Alex Carpenter and Abbey Murphy scored in the second period, and the U.S. beat Finland 3-0 to advance to Tuesday’s final of the women’s world championship in Calgary, Alberta. The five-time defending champion will play the winner of the other semifinal between Canada and Switzerland, which ended too late for this edition.
Soccer: Negotiations between Paris Saint-germain and Real Madrid are at a standstill over the potential transfer of Kylian Mbappe, ESPN reported. Madrid had offered PSG $212 million on Thursday for the 22-year-old forward’s transfer, an improvement on a initial $188 million bid from earlier that week.