Tag: reserve/COVID-19 list

Cowboys’ Jayron Kearse activated off of COVID list Thursday

Prized free-agent signing Jayron Kearse returns to the Cowboys’ active roster after being activated from the Reserve/COVID list. | From @StarConscience

The NFL playoffs are here and the Dallas Cowboys are set to host the San Francisco 49ers in the wild card round on Sunday. They got two key additions added back to their roster on Wednesday when linebacker Micah Parsons and left tackle Tyron Smith were activated off of the Reserve/COVID list.

Jayron Kearse tested positive for COVID last week and missed the Cowboys’ season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, much like Parsons and Smith, Kearse is vaccinated as was expected to be back for the playoffs.

That’s exactly what happened on Thursday when Kearse was activated from the COVID list.

Kearse was looked at as just a depth piece and special teams contributor when he was signed last March, but he changed that narrative very quickly. He had a fantastic season by leading the Cowboys and setting a career-high with 101 tackles (nine tackles for loss) and also set career highs in interceptions (2) and passes defended (10).

The former seventh-round pick has gained so much trust with the Cowboys’ coaching staff that he was given the green dot to take over play-calling duties for the aforementioned Parsons against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. It worked as the Cowboys picked up the win by limiting the Vikings to 16 points and converting just one of their 13 third-down attempts.

Cowboys’ head coach Mike McCarthy praised Kearse for how he handled the responsibility.

“There’s some game-planning components to it. We made the change. Micah was still a part of the rotation. But I thought Jayron did an excellent job with the communication,” McCarthy said. “He’s an excellent communicator. It was probably as clean as a performance as we’ve had.”

The safety position for the Cowboys has been a struggle to get correct in previous years. Kearse has brought stability to the position and has made himself a top priority free agent for Dallas in the offseason.

 

Injury report: Cowboys near full strength; 49ers’ LT misses practice

Several Cowboys came off COVID, injury, or illness on Wednesday; only Jayron Kearse and Nahshon Wright were absent for the day’s work. | From @ToddBrock24f7

After a Week 18 trip to Philadelphia that saw several Cowboys starters stay back in Dallas or otherwise miss the regular-season finale with COVID, illness, or injury, the team looks to be nearing full strength just in time for Sunday’s first-round playoff game versus San Francisco.

Safety Jayron Kearse is the only Cowboys player from last week’s rash of Reserve/COVID adds to still be on the list Wednesday, according to head coach Mike McCarthy in his midweek press conference. Kearse did not practice with the team, but is expected back on Thursday.

Several others were activated from the COVID protocol on Wednesday, including left tackle Tyron Smith, who was limited in the day’s session.

Linebacker Micah Parsons also returned from the COVID list. He told reporters after Wednesday’s practice about his experience with the virus.

“Some fatigue, muscle ache, sore throat, some congestion,” Parsons described. “I think from a standpoint of a comeback, I feel great. I had a whole bunch of rest. I had an extra bye week some of the guys didn’t get. So I feel refreshed. I liked how I played off my last bye week [Week 8 against Minnesota], so hopefully we can follow up with that.”

Linebacker Francis Bernard also returned to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity after being out with COVID.

Cornerback Nahshson Wright did not practice Wednesday for personal reasons, the Cowboys reported.

Running back Tony Pollard, who sat out Week 18 with a foot injury, was a full participant Wednesday, a good sign for the speedy threat.

Tight end Sean McKeon, safety Israel Mukuamu, and linebacker Keanu Neal were all limited, according to the day’s practice report.

Of note, cornerback Trevon Diggs was not on the injury report after missing Week 18 with an illness.

Tight ends coach Lunda Wells was also in COVID protocol as of McCarthy’s Wednesday briefing. “Actually, I think he’s testing today. He may be back today or tomorrow,” the coach said. “Other than that, we’re 100 percent.”

In a final bit of roster maneuvering, the Cowboys placed third-string quarterback Will Grier on injured reserve. Ben DiNucci moves up from the practice squad to be the backup to backup Cooper Rush.

For the visiting 49ers, star offensive tackle Trent Williams missed Wednesday’s work session with an elbow sprain. He missed the team’s season-closer dealing with the same injury, but head coach Kyle Shanahan says he’s hoping Williams will be able to play Sunday.

Veteran tight end George Kittle was given a veteran’s day off, while quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was limited with a chipped bone in his thumb. Both are expected to play in Dallas.

San Francisco running back Elijah Mitchell did not practice; linebackers Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Marcell Harris, safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Jaquiski Tartt, and punter Mitch Wishnowsky were all expected to be limited.

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Chiefs place TE Mark Vital on practice squad COVID-19 list

The #Chiefs placed developmental TE Mark Vital on the practice squad COVID-19 list on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed a player on the practice squad COVID-19 list.

According to the NFL’s official personnel notice for Wednesday, the Chiefs placed developmental TE Mark Vital on the practice squad COVID-19 list due to a positive test. This list functions as the normal Reserve/COVID-19 list, but for practice squad players. He’ll join fellow practice squad teammate Josh Jackson as the only two players currently on any COVID-19 lists for Kansas City.

Vital, 25, is a former college basketball player from the Baylor Bears undergoing a conversion to the tight end position. He joined the practice squad back in September, and he has been working to make the switch ever since. Despite some injuries and COVID issues at the tight end position earlier this season, Vital has not yet been elevated to the 53-man roster this season.

Wednesday was the first day that players were back in the building for the team following their Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos. There shouldn’t be any concern about spread as a result of this positive test.

Vital will fall under the NFL’s most recent COVID-19 return-to-play protocols. That means he’ll need a minimum of one negative test result in order to be restored to the practice squad.

This shouldn’t impact the team’s ability to prep for the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the wild-card round. The team currently has three tight ends on the 53-man roster in addition to Nakia Griffin-Stewart and Matt Bushman on the practice squad.

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Lions activate OTs Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell among final Week 18 roster moves

The Lions get their starting offensive tackles back jus tin time for the Week 18 matchup with the Packers

Good news for the Detroit Lions on the eve of their final game of the 2021 NFL season. The team activated starting offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker from the reserve/COVID-19 list in time to play in Sunday’s finale against Green Bay.

Activating Decker and Sewell means the Lions add two of the team’s best players back into the mix. Both tested positive early in the week but were able to clear protocols — namely being asymptomatic and producing a negative test — in time for the game. OLB Austin Bryant remains on the list.

Just to be safe, the Lions did elevate OT Dan Skipper from the practice squad, along with LB Tavante Beckett. They were standard elevations.

Sewell and reserve offensive tackle Will Holden were added to the injury report as questionable with illness, however. That helps explain Skipper’s promotion.

Detroit also brought freshly cut CB Saivion Smith back to the team on the practice squad. To make room, the Lions released WR Juwan Green and RB Rodney Smith from the practice squad.

Lions tackles Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker still symptomatic with COVID, status for Week 18 in doubt

Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell and Austin Bryant are all still symptomatic on Friday per head coach Dan Campbell

There are currently three Detroit Lions who were placed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list earlier in the week who remain inactive. Based on what head coach Dan Campbell offered in his Friday press conference, it doesn’t sound promising that the Lions will get any of them back for Sunday’s finale against the Green Bay Packers.

The trio of left tackle Taylor Decker, right tackle Penei Sewell and outside linebacker Austin Bryant are all still showing symptoms of COVID-19. By the NFL’s protocols, players must be asymptomatic and test negative before being activated from the reserve list, regardless of vaccination status. Campbell indicated all are still showing symptoms as of Friday morning.

“This will all be – the guys that we have on COVID right now, the three, it will be about the symptoms. How are they? We’ve been checking on them every day and they all have symptoms,” Campbell told reporters via Zoom. “And so, we’ll just have to see how they feel tomorrow. That will be their fifth day, and so they can come in and we can check them out, see where they’re at, see if it’s affected them physically at all and where their mind’s at. If they feel like they can go and they don’t have the symptoms, then we’re good to go. But otherwise, we won’t really know until tomorrow (Saturday) to be honest with you.”

Any of the players could be activated as late as Sunday if they can pass the protocol requirements. If not, the Lions will be missing both their starting offensive tackles and a key pass rusher against the NFC’s top team.

Cowboys place Tyron Smith, Anthony Brown on COVID list; Parsons officially out Week 18

The Cowboys will be without several key players for the season finale, but Mike McCarthy is confident that all can return for the playoffs. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys started the 2021 season with one of their All-Pro offensive linemen battling COVID. They’ll end the season the same way.

Tyron Smith, recently named to his eighth Pro Bowl, has been placed on the team’s Reserve/COVID list with a positive test for the virus.

Smith will not play in the Cowboys’ Week 18 regular-season finale in Philadelphia, joining cornerback Anthony Brown as the newest additions. Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons and several practice squad players are already in the protocol.

Over 30 Cowboys players have been on the watchlist this season. Zack Martin missed the season opener with COVID; CeeDee Lamb, Randy Gregory, Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, Amari Cooper, Osa Odighizuwa, and Jourdan Lewis are just a few of the high-profile starters to miss time for Dallas thus far.

The virus has run through the coaching staff, too; defensive coordinator Dan Quinn missed a preseason game, and head coach Mike McCarthy was absent for Week 13 at New Orleans.

Parsons tested positive for the virus Wednesday, the morning after he attended a Dallas Mavericks game. The rookie later made a public apology via social media, telling fans he feels he let them and the team down.

McCarthy confirmed for media members that Parsons will not play Saturday night and will not travel to Philadelphia with the team.

For Brown, the timing of his COVID test- and subsequent quarantine- was particularly tough, as his wife also gave birth Thursday morning.

In his conference call Thursday, McCarthy told reporters that he and the coaching staff are urging players to be smart with how they conduct themselves outside the team facility, given both the spike in COVID cases and the typical cold and flu season. The coach admitted that several players “are sick, but they have not tested positive” for the virus.

Terence Steele is expected to take over for Smith, as he has done earlier in the season. Kelvin Joseph will likely step in for Brown. Neal, just off the COVID list this week, should be available to pick up some the slack with Parsons out.

Starters missing a season-ender that won’t change the final divisional standings is one thing, even though the Cowboys have stated they would like to beat the Eagles and finish undefeated in the NFC East.

Entering the postseason at full strength, though, is of utmost importance. McCarthy expressed confidence that Smith, Brown, Parsons, and the other Cowboys on the COVID list should be ready to go Wild Card Weekend.

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Lions place injured TE Hunter Bryant on reserve/COVID-19 list

Bryant has been on the Lions IR all season after going unclaimed when waived last spring

There was a minor addition to the Detroit Lions’ reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, one that probably elicits the “oh yeah, I wondered what happened to that guy” reaction.

The Lions placed tight end Hunter Byrant on the COVID list on injured reserve. Bryant has been on Detroit’s IR all season, reverting there after Detroit waived him from the non-football injury list this past spring. No other team claimed the former collegiate All-American at Washington.

Bryant suffered two significant knee injuries before coming to the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and the NFI designation also involved a knee issue. It’s interesting that Bryant is still around the team despite having no chance of playing for the Lions in 2021. He caught one pass in five games in 2020.

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Broncos place QB Teddy Bridgewater on IR, make 15 other roster moves

The Broncos placed QB Teddy Bridgewater on IR and made 15 other roster moves Wednesday.

The Denver Broncos placed three players on injured reserve and activated 13 players from COVID-19 lists on Wednesday, the team announced. Here’s a quick look at the team’s transactions.

 

 

Lions activate WR Kalif Raymond from the reserve/COVID-19 list

Raymond missed the team’s loss to Seattle after testing positive last week

There is some good news for the Detroit Lions receiving corps. Starting wideout Kalif Raymond was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list and will be eligible to play in the Week 18 finale against the Green Bay Packers.

Raymond missed the trip to Seattle after testing positive last week. He and Josh Reynolds, who has played extensively since signing with the team in November, were both sidelined with COVID-19. Reynolds remains on the list, where he was joined by starting offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, plus outside linebacker Austin Bryant, on Monday.

The Lions did add another player to the reserve/COVID-19 list, though it’s not someone on the active roster. Defensive tackle Joel Heath was placed on the list from injured reserve, where he’s spent the entire season.