Arizona Cardinals starting left guard Justin Pugh recently landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after a positive test for the virus. He would like to see the league make some changes, as he shared on his Twitter account.
In his first tweet, he called for a return to daily testing for all players, whether fully vaccinated or not.
Hey @NFL we need daily testing for vaccinated and non vaccinated players. I was vaccinated and still got covid. As of now vaccinated players test every 14 days. That’s not enough! Who knows how long I walked around the building with it or whoever I got it from! Fix this ASAP
Fully vaccinated players are only tested once every two weeks. It was part of the effort to get players vaccinated, giving them an incentive to get it. That was combined with not having to follow the very strict protocols from 2020, when players were prohibited from going out, leaving the hotel on the road and more.
Pugh added more.
I don’t care where you stand on the vaccination fence. We had no one vaccinated last year and made the season happen. I think more testing is crucial because it allows us to catch and remove positive cases ASAP. @NFL is in a unique situation. I’d Rather OVER test then UNDER test
This is an interesting dilemma. Positive tests disrupt the season, as players are unable to play or practice. There is, of course, the simple question of health and safety for the players.
Pugh is on the list now. Teammate Jordan Phillips shared he tested positive as well after being fully vaccinated.
What Pugh proposes probably would be hotly debated by many in the league. Many were vaccinated to get back to normal. Daily testing would not be that.
The NFLPA and NFL agreed to bi-weekly testing for vaccinated players, so any change would have to come through collective bargaining.
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