Washington’s Sweat tests positive
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Football Team put Montez Sweat on the NFL’S COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday after the thirdyear defensive end tested positive for the coronavirus.
Sweat was expected to return to practice this week and play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday after missing the past four games with a broken jaw. He was one of Washington’s few unvaccinated players and therefore is ruled out of the Cowboys game.
Despite missing the past month, Sweat ranked second on the team with four sacks this season. Washington’s pass rush is already without reigning defensive rookie of the year Chase Young, who tore the ACL in his right knee.
“I can’t tell you,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said when asked about Sweat’s quarantine. “Just hearing the news this morning and knowing we had to put him on the protocol list. We’ll go from there. Hopefully, we’ll get some good news very shortly with that.”
Fields ready to return for Bears
Justin Fields is set to return to the Chicago Bears’ lineup.
Coach Matt Nagy said the rookie quarterback will start when the team visits the Green Bay Packers on Sunday after missing the past two games because of broken ribs.
Fields, the No. 11 overall draft pick, practiced on a limited basis last week. He has not played since he left in the second half of a loss to Baltimore on Nov. 21.
Fields wasn’t sure exactly when the injury happened. His final play against the Ravens was a 6-yard scramble on thirdand-11 at the Chicago 45 on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Fields went to the locker room and veteran Andy Dalton replaced him.
“I didn’t get hit that hard, so I think it happened before that last play when I came off,” Fields said. “I tried to get up and run and it was hurting to run. I’m not even sure what play it happened on.”
Rodgers: Injured toe has improved
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says the off week has assisted him in his recovery from a toe injury, though it’s still painful enough to keep the reigning MVP from practicing.
Rodgers wasn’t on the practice field Wednesday as the Packers (9-3) prepared for their Sunday night home game with the Chicago Bears (4-8). He practiced just once before a Nov. 21 loss at Minnesota and didn’t practice at all before a Nov. 28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
“I feel good these two weeks are going to give me a real good chance to get a lot of the healing done,” Rodgers said. “We’re so far out now from the initial injury that I’d like to think that any damage I might do on Sunday will pale in comparison to the healing that’s been done the last couple weeks.”
Seahawks lose Adams to injury
The Seattle Seahawks will be without starting strong safety Jamal Adams for the rest of the season after he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder, coach Pete Carroll said.
Adams is expected to undergo surgery Thursday for the damage he suffered during the first half of the Seahawks’ win over San Francisco, which snapped Seattle’s three-game losing streak. He had surgery to repair damage to the same shoulder last offseason.
Adams is in his second season with Seattle and he signed a $70 million, fouryear extension with the Seahawks before the start of the season.
Giants grooming Fromm for start
Recently signed quarterback Jake Fromm took most of the snaps for the New York Giants on Wednesday as the team practiced at the University of Arizona in Tucson for Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
Giants coach Joe Judge said starter Daniel Jones was seen by a neck specialist in California on Monday and has not been cleared for contact. Jones was hurt against Philadelphia on Nov. 28.
Odds and ends
Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow says his injured pinky finger on his throwing hand won’t keep him out of Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. The finger was dislocated last Sunday when Burrow was strip-sacked on the Bengals’ first possession against the Los Angeles Chargers . ... New York Jets rookie WR Elijah Moore is dealing with a quadriceps injury that could sideline him for the game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.