Tag: vaccine

Brandon Scherff and David Sharpe placed on reserve/COVID-19 list

Washington now has six players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Earlier this week, Washington head coach Ron Rivera voiced his concerns on the team’s low COVID-19 vaccination rate and saw four players added to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

On Saturday’s final practice in Richmond before heading back to Ashburn, Washington added two more to the list: right guard Brandon Scherff and offensive tackle David Sharpe.

Scherff and Sharpe join wide receiver Curtis Samuel, defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis, offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas and defensive back Chris Miller on the list.

Rivera spoke after practice and said some players were set up to get the vaccine on Sunday.

Washington already has more player’s on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week than it had last season before vaccinations were available.

It’s easy to understand Rivera’s frustration because it could put Washington at a disadvantage on game days if this happens during the season.

 

 

 

 

Panthers LB Jermaine Carter has a good point about joint practices with Colts

It is what it is, but it’s not fair. 

The NFL is doing its best to get players vaccinated without a mandate. That doesn’t mean the effort isn’t inconsistent and self-defeating at times, as everything else the league does.

Panthers linebacker Jermaine Carter made a great point on Twitter today, pointing out that he can’t meet with his vaccinated family, and yet he has to practice against the Colts in a couple of weeks – one of the teams with the league’s lowest vaccination rates.

Accoridng to the latest reports, Indianapolis has a 60% rate, which is the second-lowest in the NFL.

It is what it is, but it’s not fair.

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Terry McLaurin talks after the first day of training camp

Terry McLaurin spoke about vaccines, Ryan Fitzpatrick and how he got better in the offseason.

After the Washington Football Team completed their first training camp practice, No. 1 wide receiver Terry McLaurin met with the media.

One of the top topics of conversations was COVID-19 and vaccinations. McLaurin admitted he was vaccinated. While he respects the choice of every player’s choice to be vaccinated or not, McLaurin is going to do what he feels is best for the team.

Washington coach Ron Rivera made headlines on Tuesday when he said he was “beyond frustrated” at the team’s low vaccination rate. Rivera referenced his own situation as a reminder. Rivera was diagnosed with cancer last year and went through treatments throughout the season.

In speaking about vaccines, McLaurin specifically mentioned his coach’s personal situation.

“We have to be mindful of that,” McLaurin said.

McLaurin didn’t only talk about vaccines on Wednesday. he also spoke about his new quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick.

McLaurin and Fitzpatrick connected multiple times on Wednesday, one of which was captured by Washington’s official Twitter account.

Finally, McLaurin talked about the offseason and what he worked on. One area of improvement for McLaurin was beating cornerbacks off the line.

It was a good first day for McLaurin and Washington’s wide receivers.

 

 

 

 

Panthers QB Sam Darnold will be considered fully-vaccinated by Friday

Early last month Darnold said he wasn’t vaccinated, which caused quite a stir on Twitter. 

Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold didn’t want to comment on his vaccination status yesterday when he spoke with the media after checking in for training camp in Spartanburg. Both Darnold and running back Christian McCaffrey refused to say whether or not they’d gotten the shot.

Today, the beans have been spilled. According to multiple reports, Darnold received his second dose of the vaccine on July 16 and he will be considered fully-vaccinated by Friday, July 30.

Early last month Darnold said he wasn’t vaccinated, which caused quite a stir on Twitter.

What changed? We can’t say for sure, but it might have something to do with the NFL’s new restrictions on unvaccinated players. In any case, the CDC says the vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious illness and death due to COVID-19. Breakthrough infections are possible, but at this point over 99% of the deaths in the US are among unvaccinated individuals.

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Jets OT George Fant lands on reserve/COVID-19 list

Jets RT George Fant was one of the 15 players around the NFL to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Jets placed OT George Fant on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

This designation follows intake testing on the first day of training camp. Fant was one of 15 players placed on the list. Pelissero noted 14 of those were for positive tests, but it’s unclear if Fant was one of them.

This news comes on the same day Robert Saleh said the Jets’ vaccination rate among players was “above-average.”

Once cleared, Fant will compete against recently-signed veteran Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle job in training camp. Fant started 14 games for the Jets in 2019 after leaving the Seahawks in free agency.

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Jets OT George Fant lands on reserve/COVID-19 list

Jets RT George Fant was one of the 15 players around the NFL to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Jets placed OT George Fant on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

This designation follows intake testing on the first day of training camp. Fant was one of 15 players placed on the list. Pelissero noted 14 of those were for positive tests, but it’s unclear if Fant was one of them.

This news comes on the same day Robert Saleh said the Jets’ vaccination rate among players was “above-average.”

Once cleared, Fant will compete against recently-signed veteran Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle job in training camp. Fant started 14 games for the Jets in 2019 after leaving the Seahawks in free agency.

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Ex-Jets assistant out as Vikings coordinator after refusing COVID-19 vaccine

Former Jets assistant Rick Dennison won’t coach with the Vikings in 2021 after refusing a COVID-19 vaccine.

A former Jets assistant coach lost his job on Friday after refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Vikings fired offensive line coach Rick Dennison for choosing not to take the COVID-19 vaccine, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Dennison served as the Jets offensive line coach and run game coordinator under Todd Bowles in 2018.

All Tier-1 coaches, front office executives and other staff members are required to be vaccinated against the virus, according to the NFL’s COVID-19 policies, unless they have a valid religious or medical reason. If they aren’t vaccinated, they lose that status and won’t be allowed direct access to players – including on the field and in meeting rooms.

Dennison didn’t have an approved exemption, according to a statement released by the Vikings, but the team said it will “continue to hold discussions” with the coach.

Players are not required to be vaccinated, but the NFL released new protocols which incentivize players to get the shot. Players and teams could also forfeit games and game checks if an outbreak occurs among the unvaccinated. It’s become a contentious point among some members of the league, and a few players have already voiced their opinions on Twitter.

Report: Falcons have one of NFL’s highest vaccination rates

The Falcons are one of only nine teams with a vaccination rate of 90 percent or higher.

As we get closer to the 2021 NFL regular season, the debate over whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine is heating up among players and coaches. Just over the past week, we’ve seen a coach in Minnesota leave after refusing vaccination, while Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins openly contemplated retirement.

However, of the 89 players currently on the Atlanta Falcons roster, only seven have yet to get vaccinated, as reported by The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz on Friday afternoon.

The Falcons are one of only nine teams with a vaccination rate of 90 percent or higher. This is a major positive going into the season, especially considering the NFL has become increasingly strict on COVID guidelines.

While being vaccinated doesn’t eliminate the chance to contract the virus entirely, it does reduce the spread and limit its effects. The NFL sent out a league wide memo earlier this week stating that the league won’t reschedule games if an outbreak occurs within a team filled with unvaccinated players. This will result in a forfeit for that team.

“If a game is cancelled/postponed because a club cannot play due to a COVID spike among or resulting from its non-vaccinated players/staff, then the burden of the cancellation or delay will fall on the club experiencing the COVID infection,” the memo states. “We will seek to minimize the burden on the opposing club or clubs. If a club cannot play due to a COVID spike in vaccinated individuals, we will attempt to minimize the competitive and economic burden on both participating teams.”

Additionally, the NFL has stated that teams who fail to meet the 85 percent vaccination threshold will still have to adhere to strict COVID policies. This includes daily testing, limited in-person meetings and masks.

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The NBA is reportedly following in the NFL’s footsteps with COVID-19 protocols for Summer League

The message the NBA is sending is clear: Get vaccinated

The NFL announced its COVID-19 protocols with heavy restrictions for non-vaccinated players for the 2021-22 season on Thursday.

If the NBA is about to follow in its footsteps if Summer League is any indication. They’re reportedly going to do everything in their power to make sure their players are fully vaccinated when Summer League rolls around in August.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported protocols facing both vaccinated non-vaccinated players during Summer League this year and the difference was stark.

There were tons of restrictions for non-vaccinated players while players with the vaccine saw essentially saw none. They only need to take a single PCR test upon arrival.

 

Vaccinated players won’t face advanced testing or quarantines after close contact and won’t have any restrictions for in-person interactions or activities in the city.

Non-vaccinated players, on the other hand, will still be placed under the same restrictions the league had in place for last season. Daily testing, a seven-day quarantine after close contact, no large indoor social gatherings, no visiting restaurants, bars, or entertainment spaces and no leaving the team’s hotel outside of team activities.

This is just Summer League. You have to imagine the league will come down even harder on non-vaccinated players when the regular season rolls around.

They’re trying to keep things moving forward. We’ve seen the impact of COVID-19 on the NBA’s schedule. There were tons of games that had to be rescheduled into the second half of the season because of COVID outbreaks among players on different teams.

Neither is explicitly saying it, but the message both the NBA and NFL are sending to their players: Get vaccinated. And, honestly, that’s for the best.

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Report: Colts remain among teams with lowest vaccination rates

The Colts are still among the teams with the lowest vaccination rates, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The Indianapolis Colts are still among the four teams with the lowest vaccination rates with two weeks until training camp starts, per a report from Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press.

Earlier this offseason, there was a report documenting the teams above 85% and those teams who were on the low end of the league. The Colts were still among the teams with the lowest vaccination rates then and with two weeks to go until camp, they remain among the four teams under 50%.

The other three teams reportedly under 50% vaccination rates include Washington, Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Chargers.

General manager Chris Ballard said following the initial report that the Colts are encouraging the vaccine for COVID-19 but won’t require it. Ballard also said more players on the roster have received the vaccination, but it doesn’t appear by much.

“It’s a personal choice for everybody in our community, everybody in our country, and everybody on our team,” said Ballard in June. “We’re encouraging it, but saying that, we’ll deal with whatever we have to deal with. We saw that we can handle what we had to deal with last year, and whatever the numbers are this year, we’ll deal with it again.”

We know defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has been vaccinated as he stated why it was the right decision to make for himself. After missing a crucial divisional matchup because of COVID-19, that decision was easy.

However, the Colts seem to still have a majority of players either on the fence or completely against getting vaccinated. Even with the stricter rules against those who are unvaccinated, a large share of players on the roster are still willing to take the risk of missing games.

It will be interesting to see how these decisions will impact the Colts during the regular season, and it most likely will have an impact if the rate remains under 50% for the 2021 campaign.

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