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CJ Gardner-Johnson is going on the COVID-19 list
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) December 30, 2020
Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reported that New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is being placed on the COVID-19 list, though it’s unclear yet whether he returned a positive test result or was in close contract with a high-risk individual.
If Gardner-Johnson did test positive, he’ll be sidelined for at least 10 days before he can return to action, though that assumes he tests negative once the league-mandated window opens. Assuming that’s the case, the soonest he could return would be Saturday, Jan. 9 — right in the middle of the NFL Wild Card Round, when the Saints could be playing. Even in a best-case scenario he likely wouldn’t be available to play that weekend after missing practice time.
On the other hand, a close-contact loss would mean he simply misses five days while going through testing. If he continues to test negative, he’d be allowed to return after Monday, Jan. 4, just like backup quarterback Jameis Winston last week.
That’s a huge loss for the Saints either way. The second-year pro has logged 861 defensive snaps (fourth-most on the team), forming a dynamic tandem with Malcolm Jenkins around the middle of the field with Marcus Williams patrolling deep. It also means the Saints will be without two of their top three safeties in Week 17’s regular season finale with the Carolina Panthers if both Williams (sidelined by an ankle injury) and Gardner-Johnson can’t play this Sunday.
So stay tuned for updates. Gardner-Johnson is joining rookie cornerback Keith Washington Jr. on the COVID-19 list; Washington received the reserve designation on Dec. 24 and has not yet been activated, suggesting he turned in a positive test result rather than a high-risk close-contact report. Hopefully this isn’t the start of a cluster of cases at the worst possible time.
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