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Former Alabama DT Daron Payne placed on NFL Reserve/COVID-19 list

Daron Payne has been placed on the NFL’s Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Former Alabama defensive tackle Daron Payne is set to enter his fourth season in the NFL with the Washington Football Team. The No. 13 overall pick from the 2018 draft has had quite a big impact on Washington’s defense, which is expected to perform as one of the league’s best in 2021.

While the team’s defense is highly praised, the vaccination rate among players has been the recent target go criticism.

Recent reports suggest Washington is far below the rest of the league in terms of percentage of team members vaccinated.

Ron Rivera, the team’s head coach, recently overcame a hard-fought battle against skin cancer, and has been outspoken regarding his frustration with the team’s hesitancy to be vaccinated.

It’s unclear whether Payne was one of those players, nor is it known if he has contracted the virus or simply been near someone who has tested positive. Regardless, Payne has been placed on the NFL’s Reserve/COVID-19 list, according to the team’s official Twitter.

We have placed DT Daron Payne on the Reserve/COVID-19 List.

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 1, 2021

Roll Tide Wire will continue to report on Payne and his likelihood to return to training camp.

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Chiefs activate LB Anthony Hitchens, DE Mike Danna from reserve/COVID-19 list

Some help on the defensive side of the ball for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs will get some defensive reinforcements ahead of their divisional-round game against the Cleveland Browns.

According to the NFL’s official transactions report, the Chiefs have activated LB Anthony Hitchens and DE Mike Danna from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Hitchens tweeted last week, indicating that he’d returned to the team facility and would be back from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Danna was only recently placed on the list after being confirmed as a high-risk close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

The return of Hitchens is big news for the Chiefs. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Dec. 22 and missed Week 16 against the Falcons and Week 17 against the Chargers as a result. He’s typically the defensive signal-caller for the team. He wears the green dot and in his absence, the team had relied on Ben Niemann and Darius Harris to relay the play call’s to the defense. Hitchens has also been heralded as the “glue guy” on defense. He makes all the individual units work together and play at their best.

Danna’s return is important for Kansas City too. He’s been a crucial part of the defensive line rotation, even as a rookie. One area where he’s been most impressive is his ability to set the edge in the run game, something that will be tested during the divisional playoff matchup against a Browns team that possesses a strong running game.

In a corresponding move, the team waived WR Gehrig Dieter, who was signed to the 53-man roster for Week 17. Expect Dieter to be re-signed to the practice squad in the coming days assuming he clears waivers.

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NFL’s playoff scheduling may decide if Alvin Kamara can join Saints for first-round kickoff

The NFL’s playoff schedule for the wild-card round may determine if Alvin Kamara can join the New Orleans Saints after catching COVID-19.

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A confirmed positive COVID-19 test for New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara means he’s out of action for at least 10 days, including the final week of the regular season and the first leg of the upcoming NFL Wild-Card Round.

Because Kamara’s positive test sample was submitted on Thursday, Dec. 31, the 10-day window opened as soon as he reported to the facility for testing. Per NFL rules, the soonest he can return is Sunday, Jan. 10, and that’s only if he continues to remain asymptomatic while experiencing no symptoms. He would also need to test negative for several consecutive days before earning medical clearance.

That means he’s not a sure thing to join the Saints for the first round of the playoffs. Right now, the Saints are the projected No. 2 seed, which no longer enjoys the benefits of a bye week (thanks, playoff expansion. Real timely of you). They would be playing the No. 7 seed, but when that occurs is unclear.

And we won’t know until after Week 17’s games wrap up when exactly each playoff game is scheduled for kickoff. If the Saints draw a Saturday time slot, there’s no way Kamara is with them. But if they’re playing on Sunday instead, they at least have a chance of taking the field with their best player.

Sure, they’re mathematically alive in the hunt for the No. 1 seed and the sole remaining bye week. But they need a couple of breaks, like the Green Bay Packers losing to the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks winning against the San Francisco 49ers, to pull that off — in addition to defeating the Carolina Panthers on their own. The Saints intend to play their starters in Week 17 to pursue that chance, but the odds aren’t in their favor.

So here’s hoping for good luck for all involved, and good health for Kamara. It’s easy to lose sight of how seriously the coronavirus can impact people, even professional athletes. Maybe the new year can bring some good news to New Orleans in the days and weeks ahead.

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Saints DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson designated to COVID-19 reserve list

New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was designated to the COVID-19 reserve list on Wednesday, bringing a big hit to the secondary

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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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Jameis Winston placed on Saints’ COVID-19 reserve list

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston was placed on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list hours before kickoff with the Kansas City Chiefs

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The New Orleans Saints took a big hit hours before kickoff with the Kansas City Chiefs when backup quarterback Jameis Winston was lost to the COVID-19 reserve list. It’s unclear whether contract tracing put any other Saints players at high risk of exposure, but for now he’s the only member of the team on the reserve list for Week 15.

It throws a serious wrench in New Orleans’ plans for attacking the Chiefs defense. The plan has been for Winston to be the immediate replacement for Drew Brees during a game, with Taysom Hill starting in Brees’ absence only after a week of practice to install his version of the Saints offense. But with Brees making his first start after missing four games on injured reserve, the Saints may instead have to protect Hill by keeping him on the sidelines rather than mixing it up in his usual gadget role.

Compounding the problem is the Saints’ decision to waive their other backup quarterback on Saturday. Trevor Siemian was signed to round out the group with Brees unavailable over the last month, but he was released to make rom for practice squad call-ups who can help on Sunday. Siemian won’t be eligible to re-sign with the team until he’s cleared waivers on Tuesday.

We’ll see just how this changes the Saints’ plans, if at all. Hopefully Winston makes a full recovery and the team can get on track against the Chiefs after their 9-game winning streak was broken a week ago.

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Broncos, Saints’ next opponent, cancel Friday practice after 3 positive COVID-19 tests

Statement from the Broncos: pic.twitter.com/BFm0F4uXod – Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 27, 2020 The New Orleans Saints’ next opponent is managing a COVID-19 situation after a Denver Broncos player and two staff members tested positive for the …

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Statement from the Broncos: pic.twitter.com/BFm0F4uXod

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 27, 2020

The New Orleans Saints’ next opponent is managing a COVID-19 situation after a Denver Broncos player and two staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, the Broncos announced. The Broncos canceled their Friday practice session and closed the team training facility after placing backup quarterback Jeff Driskel on the COVID-19 reserve list on Thursday.

For now, the game at Denver is still scheduled for a 3:05 p.m. CT kickoff on Sunday, Nov. 29. Saints coach Sean Payton said earlier this week that the Saints will fly out on Saturday, as always using a privately chartered flight with COVID-19 precautions in place.

New Orleans has dealt with their own COVID-19 absences this season, including wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (who missed two games while recovering from an infection) and running back Dwayne Washington (who spent three weeks on the reserve list). So they’re familiar with all of these protocols and the risks at work.

Hopefully no further COVID-19 tests come up for the Broncos. The NFL is already managing an outbreak with the Baltimore Ravens, who shut down their team practice facility on Thursday and have reported a number of positive test results. The Ravens were scheduled to face the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday to cap the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day slate, but the game has been postponed until Sunday and could be pushed back further if more team members test positive.

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Chiefs activate OL Martinas Rankin from reserve/COVID-19 list

The Chiefs no longer have any players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Kansas City Chiefs have activated the final player they had on the reserve/COVID-19 list to the 53-man roster.

According to the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs have activated OL Martinas Rankin from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Rankin was placed on the list ahead of Week 11 along with LT Eric Fisher and RT Mitchell Schwartz. Both Fisher and Schwartz were activated on Thursday, while Rankin remained on the list. With Mecole Hardman also coming off of the list on Saturday, the team no longer has any players currently on the list.

Rankin had recently been activated from the PUP list after recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered in the middle of the 2019 season. The versatile offensive lineman started five games at left guard for the Chiefs in 2019. He is currently listed as the backup left tackle on the depth chart for Kansas City.

With Mitchell Schwartz set to be out for at least another three weeks now that he’s been placed on injured reserve, the team is lacking for offensive tackle depth. That makes this a timely move for the Chiefs as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12.

The Chiefs received a roster exemption for Rankin until Tuesday, November 24th. The team will need to make a corresponding transaction to clear space on the roster when that roster exemption expires.

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Kansas City Chiefs place 3 offensive linemen on reserve/COVID-19 list

Two starting offensive tackles and a backup have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed three offensive linemen on the reserve/COVID-19 including two starters.

According to the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs have placed starting LT Eric Fisher and starting RT Mitchell Schwartz on the reserve/COVID-19 list. In addition to the two starters, the Chiefs placed recently-activated swing OL Martinas Rankin on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Developing…

Chiefs place WR Mecole Hardman on reserve/COVID-19 list

Another player for the Kansas City Chiefs goes on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the bye week, but they are still subject to strict COVID-19 testing, screening and contact tracing.

According to the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs placed WR Mecole Hardman on the reserve/COVID-19 list. It’s not yet clear at this time why Hardman has been placed on the list, but it’s important to remember that this doesn’t necessarily mean that he has tested positive for the virus.

Players can be placed on the list if they’re deemed to be in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. If Hardman is considered a high-risk close contact, he’d be required to spend a minimum of five days on the reserve/COVID-19 list under the NFL’s enhanced protocols and regulations. If that is the case, Hardman won’t be at any risk of missing Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hardman was the only Chiefs player to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list today. He becomes the third player on the 53-man roster to spend time on the list after DT Chris Jones spent a day on the list last week.

Developing…

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