The Miami Dolphins announced yesterday that two additional players had been assigned to the new reserve/COVID-19 list — a new designation in 2020 that allows teams to separate players from the rest of the roster as needed due to either a positive COVID-19 test or close contact with a positive COVID-19 test. Miami’s first trio of players to be assigned to the list were LS Blake Ferguson, CB Cordrea Tankersley and IDL Benito Jones (who has since been removed from the list and given the all-clear), but now Miami has added LB Jerome Baker and IDL Zach Sieler to the mix.
The Dolphins’ starting linebacker is the biggest name yet on Miami’s roster to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic — and regardless of whether or not he himself has tested positive or if he’s simply endured a close encounter, Baker took to social media yesterday to assure everyone that he’s okay:
Y’all I’m fine. Appreciate the love and support.
— Jerome Baker Jr. (@Lastname_Baker) July 31, 2020
Several Dolphins, including fellow linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, were recently revealed to have already recovered from the virus — which is currently widespread throughout the South Florida region. Positive tests among players was to be expected on all 32 teams across the league as preparations continue for a return to play, that trend falls in line with what was seen in both NBA and MLB circles in each of those league’s respective ramp up periods.
The Dolphins can return all members currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list to normal status upon proper clearance and none of the designations are expected to impact Miami for the regular season.