Bryant goes on reserve/COVID-19 list
WR tweets that he had 2 negative tests hours before move
The Ravens placed wide receiver Dez Bryant on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, two days after a positive point-of-care PCR test made him ineligible for his highly anticipated reunion with the Dallas Cowboys, his former team.
His placement on the list — designated for players who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to the virus — came just hours after Bryant wrote on Twitter that he had tested negative for the coronavirus twice.
“I tested negative back to back for covid and I’m not excited about it,” Bryant said.
Bryant, who was not seen at the portion of practice open to themedia Thursday, will likely miss Monday night’s road game against the Cleveland Browns as he completes a mandatory 10-day self-quarantine period. Under NFL protocols, any player who tests positive for COVID-19 must self-quarantine for at least 10 days.
However, Bryant could return sooner if he is not showing symptoms and returns two consecutive negative PCR virus tests at least 24 hours apart within a five-day period.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical official, saidWednesday that Bryant’s daily molecular PCR test administered Tuesday morning returned an inconclusive result and a retest of the sample returned another inconclusive result.
Bryant, who was on the field at M&T Bank Stadium two hours before kickoff and was seen speaking to several players on the field, was removed from the field and administered a point-of-care PCR test, which returned a positive result. He was then sent home to quarantine, and the team ruled him out with an illness 30 minutes before kickoff.
After Bryant tested positive, the NFL determined through its contact-tracing process that therewere no “high-risk” close contacts, who would’ve had to miss the game, a 34-17 Ravens win.
Sills said there’s “no evidence” Bryant’s positive test is related to the outbreak that led to 23 players being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Bryant was “surprised” and “stunned” when Harbaugh spoke to him after the game.
“I think he’s a little stunned by it, surprised that it came up, so that’s where he’s at,” Harbaugh said. “I think he’s trying towork hisway through it right now.”
WRSnead activated
The Ravens have activated wide receiver Willie Snead IV from the reserve/ COVID-19 list, the team announced Thursday, returning the final offensive player to the active roster after a coronavirus outbreak forced 23 players to spend time onthe list.
Snead missed the team’s last two games — Tuesday night’s 34-17 win over the Cowboys and a 19-14 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 2 — as he completed a 10-day quarantine period after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Snead is eligible to return to practice and play in Monday night’s road game against the Browns. Before landing on the reserve/ COVID-19 list, Snead was becoming one of the team’s more reliable options in the passing game. He ranks third on the team in receptions, yards and touchdown catches.
In the four games before he was sidelined, Snead had recorded17 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ravens on Wednesday activated tight end Mark Andrews and outside linebacker Matthew Judon from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Cornerback Terrell Bonds, who is on injured reserve, and rookie safety Geno Stone remain on the list alongside Bryant.