NFL to reduce quarantine for players who test positive: sources

(AP) – The NFL is reducing quarantine time for players who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic, including unvaccinated players, from 10 to five days, according to two people familiar with the protocols.

Both people spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because the revised protocols have not yet been sent to the teams.

The league and the NFL Players Association revised the protocols after the CDC changed its guidelines for those who are asymptomatic, recommending a five-day quarantine period and masking for the second five days.

Quarterback Carson Wentz could miss Sunday’s key game against Las Vegas after the Indianapolis Colts placed their starting quarterback on the reserve / COVID-19 list.

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It was not immediately clear whether Wentz tested positive for the virus or was considered close contact with another person who had tested positive.

The Tennessee Titans, who can clinch the AFC South with a Colts win or loss, added two more in linebacker Jayon Brown and practice squad catcher Cody Hollister, who has played three of the last four games, including one as a headline. That brings the Titans’ total to nine, not counting the 10th player out of the season on injured reserve.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Colts, who have rebounded from a 1-4 start to win eight of their last 10. They can clinch one of the AFC’s seven playoff spots with a win over the Raiders.

Indy’s move comes a day after five players, including right tackle Braden Smith, were added to a rapidly expanding COVID-19 roster and less than 24 hours after coach Frank Reich was asked if they would take extra precautions to protect Wentz.

“Yes, there have been with the team, to the extent that – really for all the players,” Reich said. “Then we will have a plan for the whole team, a plan for certain people, Carson is one of them, but not the only one. I don’t want to go into detail about all the people we could do something a little more with, but those things are talked about. ”

Wentz’s backup is rookie Sam Ehlinger, who has played in three games but has not thrown a pass this season. It was a sixth-round pick.

Veteran Brett Hundley and James Morgan are on Indy’s practice team. Hundley is 3-6 as a starter during his NFL career.

Indy won Saturday at Arizona despite missing six starters due to COVID-19 and losing two more in the first half. The absences forced Indy to play with just one of its five regular starters on the offensive line, Smith.

It’s unclear how many of those players if any, can return Sunday.

But Reich made one thing clear Monday: The Colts didn’t ask last season’s starter, Philip Rivers, about coming out of retirement to help out.

“No,” Reich said. “Right now we are in the situation we are in. We are happy with the guys we have here.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in isolation at home.

The team said Tuesday that assistant head coach/ground games coordinator Harold Goodwin will serve as interim head coach in the absence of Arians. The reigning Super Bowl champions will visit the New York Jets on Sunday.

Arians said in a statement released by the team: “I have tested positive for COVID-19 this morning, but have only experienced mild symptoms so far. Harold Goodwin will assume my duties during my absence. I have complete confidence in him and the rest of our coaching staff to prepare the team for this week’s game against the Jets. I look forward to meeting the team and being back at the facility as soon as I can test again. ”

Meanwhile, the Bucs also placed cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve / COVID-19 list. That brings the number of Tampa Bay players on the roster to five.