Positive COVID-19 tests haven’t slowed down for the New Orleans Saints over the holiday weekend, with five more players sidelined ahead of Monday night’s kickoff with the Miami Dolphins. And the list now includes another starter: linebacker Kwon Alexander, along with three teammates on the practice squad and wide receiver Deonte Harris (who is serving the final week of his NFL suspension and recently changed his name to Deonte Harty).
The Times-Picayune|Advocate’s Jeff Duncan first reported that Alexander tested positive and will enter COVID protocol, knocking him out of the Dolphins game. These losses take the Saints down to just 36 players on the 53-man roster and 13 on the 16-strong practice squad, with three others questionable to play due to injuries (left tackle Terron Armstead, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith).
That means they may have to call up everyone on the practice squad just to dress a 48-man gameday roster. It’s not impossible that some players could be activated in time for the Dolphins game, but it’s very unlikely.
Here is the full list of all 21 Saints players currently on the COVID list, and when they were added to it: