THREE MORE RAMS PLACED ON COVID LIST
The COVID-19 outbreak that forced the Rams into enhanced protocols continued Wednesday with three more players added to the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
Linebacker Justin Hollins and tight ends Johnny Mundt and Jared Pinkney were added to the list, the team announced, increasing the number of Rams players to 16.
On Tuesday, the day after the short-handed Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinals 30-23 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was among nine players who were put on the list.
Cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Dont’e Deayon, running back Darrell Henderson, tight end Tyler Higbee and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein did not play against the Cardinals because they were on the list.
The Rams are not the only NFL team affected by the surge: Six other teams also are in enhanced protocols, which call for daily testing, mask-wearing and other procedures.
The Rams worked virtually Tuesday and Wednesday. They could return to their Thousand Oaks facility today, a team official said. The Rams would continue to meet virtually but they could use a mammoth outdoor tent as a makeshift locker room and equipment room in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
Rams coaches and players were not made available to the
media Wednesday. But coach Sean McVay said Tuesday he was working through ways “to figure out the best way to do it with our team and … give ourselves a chance to get some of these guys back before we play the Seahawks.”
Las Vegas gets Super Bowl
Las Vegas is adding the NFL’s crown jewel with the Super Bowl coming to cap the 2023 season.
The league’s biggest event will follow the Pro Bowl this season and the NFL Draft next year, all within five years of the Raiders’ move to the gambling mecca in the Nevada desert.
Browns to play on
Commissioner Roger Goodell said there were no plans to cancel or postpone
Cleveland’s home game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. The Browns have 18 players, including half their 22 starters, on the COVID-19 reserve list.
“Listen, we’ve raised this the last two years: It’s a challenge,” Goodell said. “I think the things that made us successful was keeping safety first. Second, being willing to adapt at all times. It’s clear even in the last couple of weeks that the changes are pretty significant and different than they were before, and I think it calls to modifications to our protocols in general, and we’re working with the players association on that.”
NFLPA President J.C. Tretter made another plea for daily testing amid the COVID-19 surge, but Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, said testing wasn’t the best way to address the league’s larger concern of spreading the virus. Sills is pushing for players to get booster shots.
Notable
Dee Ford won’t be coming back this season for the 49ers and quite possibly not at all. The Niners declined to activate Ford from injured reserve before a deadline, sending him home to rest the lingering back injury that has limited him to seven games the past two seasons. Ford has likely played his final game in San Francisco as the Niners are unlikely to bring him back for the final year of his contract and the 30-year-old might end up retiring if he can’t get healthy again.
Lamar Jackson missed practice because of his injured ankle, and the Ravens are bringing in another quarterback just in case. Jets coach Robert Saleh announced that former USD standout Josh Johnson was heading to Baltimore from New York’s practice squad.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ status for Philadelphia’s game against Washington on Sunday is uncertain because of an ankle injury.
The Panthers’ quarterback situation took another turn as Sam Darnold was back at practice earlier than expected after being designated to return from injured reserve.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is likely to miss his third straight game because of a neck injury.