Coaches instituting COVID precautions
NFL coaches are taking precautions beyond the league’s COVID-19 protocols to help ensure players are available for games.
Several teams are separating quarterbacks, holding virtual meetings and doing whatever it takes to avoid breakouts of the virus. Green Bay, Washington, Baltimore, Cleveland, Chicago and New Orleans have played without starting quarterbacks due to COVID-19. Other key players have also missed important games in recent weeks.
The league and the NFL Players Association revised protocols on Tuesday, reducing isolation time for players who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic, including unvaccinated players, to five days from 10.
The league also has implemented restrictions on players eating together, limited number of occupants in the weight room to 15, and is requiring masks be worn by all players and staff indoors at team facilities.
As teams fight for playoff berths and positioning, the virus forces them to tackle another opponent.
The San Francisco 49ers (8-7) were among the teams who chose to meet virtually Wednesday.
“Our team, we all don’t prefer Zoom,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. “People know what’s at stake with the chances of us losing guys for these games, so it wasn’t a hard issue at all going Zoom.”
The league is encouraging even fully vaccinated staff and players to avoid public areas including restaurants, bars and social gatherings. It’s not a mandate but it’s another extra step some team leaders will emphasize.
“I definitely think there’s a point where as a leader you want to try and keep things together as much as you can,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said.
Jets’ Saleh, Vikes’ Cook cleared
New York Jets coach Robert Saleh cleared COVID-19 protocols and returned to the facility to run practice for the first time since testing positive for the coronavirus last Wednesday. Saleh still participated in remote team meetings and sat out Sunday’s 26-21 victory over Jacksonville.
Also, running back Dalvin Cook returned to practice on Wednesday, ending his quarantine after six days following a positive COVID-19 test. The Vikings’ star will be available to play Sunday at Green Bay.
Odds and ends
Panthers coach Matt Rhule says Sam Darnold will start at quarterback on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints instead of 2015 league MVP Cam Newton, who is 0-5 this season and has lost 13 straight starts. … Giants coach Joe Judge announced Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm will both play Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Bears are still working through their depth chart with Justin Fields (ankle) and Andy Dalton (groin) returning to practice. … Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was limited at practice Wednesday, but that’s a step in the right direction after the star quarterback missed two straight games with an ankle injury.