NFL moves to tighten protocols
Keeping an eye on the world of sports during the pandemic:
The NFL is expanding the sideline area to give teams more space to distance and mask usage is now mandatory before and after games and at halftime.
The updates to the COVID-19 protocols were sent to clubs in a memo Tuesday, a day after the league learned two players who played in games Sunday tested positive.
The league also is strongly encouraging players to wear masks whenever they come off the field and teams in intensive protocol are prohibited from holding in-person coaching and personnel meetings.
“What we are trying to convey is masks can prevent you from becoming a high-risk contact, which is our goal, so it’s in everybody’s best interest to wear a mask for their protection and again to reduce exposure,” NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said on a conference call. “We believe that the mask use whether it’s in the locker room, on the sideline, it just reduces your chance of becoming a highrisk contact should someone turn positive.”
Ravens All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey confirmed he was one of the positive cases who played Sunday. Results from pre-game tests aren’t immediately available. Sills said if the league learns someone is positive during a game that person would be removed from the game or sideline. Sills said six players on the Ravens were already identified as high-risk, close contacts and will be isolated from team facilities for five days.
The Packers placed running back AJ Dillon on the COVID-19 reserve list Monday after he tested positive and added running back Jamaal Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin to the list as high-risk, close contacts Tuesday.
The Broncos said Tuesday GM John Elway and team president Joe Ellis tested positive.
The sideline area will stretch from one 20-yard line to the other.