Amid COVID spike in NFL, former Chiefs player wonders if another will come at playoffs
Despite saying he’d been vaccinated, Chiefs wide receiver Josh Gordon tested positive for COVID-19 and on Monday was placed on the NFL’s reserve list.
The following day, defensive lineman Chris Jones tested positive, putting his status for Thursday’s game against the Chargers in question.
Positive COVID tests haven’t been limited to the Chiefs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported 75 NFL players had positive tests on Monday and Tuesday. He also reported the Rams closed their team facility because of COVID.
The Browns, who had eight players test positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, announced Wednesday morning that coach Kevin Stefanski has tested positive. He will need two negative tests in a 24-hour span to be eligible to coach Saturday’s game against the Raiders.
Former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz wrote on Twitter about the surge in positive cases and wondered if it was related to Thanksgiving gatherings.
If that indeed is the case, Christmas is around the corner, meaning there could be another spike in the NFL, Schwartz wrote.
“Going to be really interesting to see what happens a couple weeks after Christmas,” Schwartz tweeted. “Would imagine Thanksgiving gatherings have something to do with this spike. 2-ish weeks after Xmas is right at week 18 and playoffs. NFL + teams will surely implement and stress safer protocol.”
The NFL is hoping booster shots will help avoid another spike.
This is from a New York Times story: “The NFL said the players’ positive tests were being driven by community spread, including contact with team employees, and on Monday said in a memo that it would mandate booster shots for team staff members who work most closely with players.”
Will that help? As Schwartz noted, we may know the answer next month when the playoffs start.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 8:51 AM.
