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Despite the fact that some playoff teams want to play next Sunday to have an extra day to get players off the Reserve/COVID list, the NFL says player availability will not factor into Wild-Card scheduling.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2021
This shouldn’t be a surprise, but the New Orleans Saints still can’t be happy to hear it. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that player availability — specifically the return of those on the COVID-19 reserve list, like Saints running back Alvin Kamara — will not be a factor in deciding when Wild-Card Round playoff games are scheduled.
Because Kamara reported a confirmed positive test result, he’s sidelined for 10 full days, per NFL rules. That means he won’t be eligible to return until Sunday, Jan. 10, and only if he continues to test negative throughout his quarantine. So far, he’s been asymptomatic.
So if the NFL schedules the Saints to play on Saturday, Jan. 9, there’s no way they can get on the field with Kamara in tow. Kicking off an elimination game without their best player is a tough sell, but their team should be strong enough to advance in the playoffs without just one player.
The other situation to monitor here is the status of everyone identified as high-risk close contacts to Kamara — meaning most of the running backs room, including their position coach Joel Thomas. Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington, and fullback Michael Burton joined Kamara on the COVID-19 reserve list as potential infections, but so far they haven’t tested positive. If they all continue to test negative, they can return after just five days on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
So even if Kamara isn’t available, at least his teammates and immediate backups should be ready to fill in for him. It’s just disappointing that things have come to this at such a critical point in the season.
Then again: it’s all moot if the Saints can pull off a coup for the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC. Right now, the Green Bay Packers are holding onto the conference’s top seed (and its only first-round bye week), and they have to defeat the upstart Chicago Bears to keep it. If they lose, the Saints and Seattle Seahawks have a chance at claiming it, if either of them beat the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Let’s see if New Orleans can catch a break when it needs one most.
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