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COVID impacts

COVID-risk players

Unvaccinated players at increased risk of missing games

Over 90 percent of NFL players are vaccinated, but almost 10 percent aren’t. And those players are more at risk of missing games in the regular season, given the COVID protocol system the league has put in place. It makes some sense then, to discount those players slightly in fantasy drafts.

Over 90 percent of NFL players are vaccinated, but almost 10 percent aren’t. And those players are more at risk of missing games in the regular season, given the COVID protocol system the league has put in place. It makes some sense then, to discount those players slightly in fantasy drafts.


Via current NFL guidelines, if a player is unvaccinated, he needs to be tested daily, and needs to wear a mask unless he’s actively playing. That is, if an unvaccinated player is on the sidelines during a game or a practice, rules state he needs to be wearing a mask. Vaccinated players need to be tested only once every two weeks, and they need not wear masks at any time (meaning when you see a player wearing a mask, it means he’s likely not vaccinated – the other option being that he’s vaccinated but really worried about germs).


If a player comes within close contact of a player testing positive for COVID, the requirements are far more stringent for unvaccinated players – they must isolate and pass more tests. A vaccinated player is far less likely to miss practice time or games (with no isolation required).


The NFL has put together an 88-page manual outlining all of its COVID protocols. In general, if a player isn’t vaccinated, it’s a lot more likely he’ll need to miss some time at some point.


So a tabulation of where we’re at on those 10 percent of players is in order. Neither the league nor individual teams have released an overall list, but we can piece together a list showing at least some players who weren’t vaccinated at some point. (Some of the players listed below, of course, will get the shot and move into the vaccinated column.)


On the list below, players likely to be selected in the vast majority of fantasy drafts are tagged with black dots.


ARIZONA:
• James Conner spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in mid-August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Center Rodney Hudson spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
OL Kelvin Beachum spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
OL Justin Pugh spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time). Pugh tested positive for COVID-19 and returned to the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 18.
WR Andy Isabella spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
WR KeeSean Johnson spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
• WR DeAndre Hopkins tweeted in July that he didn’t like the NFL’s COVID rules, but he didn’t say in that tweet (which was quickly deleted) whether he was vaccinated. When he was watching the first preseason game from the sideline, Hopkins and teammate A.J. Green weren’t wearing masks, which is a strong indication that they have been vaccinated.


ATLANTA:
The Falcons in mid-August said they were the first team to get their entire roster 100 percent vaccinated.


BALTIMORE:
• Lamar Jackson spent the first week of camp on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He’s contracted COVID twice in the last year, missing a game in 2020, and says he’s unsure if he’ll get vaccinated.
• Gus Edwards spent the first week of training camp on the Reserve/COVID-19 list (he was not vaccinated at that time).


BUFFALO:
• Cole Beasley has been the most vocal critic of COVID policies, indicating he won’t be getting vaccinated.
• Josh Allen in June said he wasn’t vaccinated but would look into it.
Starting left tackle Dion Dawkins opened camp on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He spent four days in the hospital. Sean McDermott in mid-August says Dawkins isn’t in the physical condition he needs to be in, and Dawkins at that time said he’d lost 12 pounds.


CAROLINA:
• Christian McCaffrey in June declined to say whether he was vaccinated.
• Sam Darnold in June declined to say whether he was vaccinated but in July said he would be vaccinated before the start of training camp. A Charlotte newspaper reports that he’s now vaccinated.


CHICAGO:
DL Eddie Goldman spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Jimmy Graham in July said he was vaccinated but that he didn’t want to be – that he felt bullied into getting the vaccine because of the league’s protocols.
• Allen Robinson in June said he was undecided if he would get the vaccine, that he was still researching the issue.


CINCINNATI:
• Joe Mixon in mid-June tweeted that he didn’t like that the NFLPA had agreed to the league’s COVID protocols, but Mixon didn’t say whether or not he was vaccinated.


CLEVELAND:
--


DALLAS:


DENVER:


DETROIT:


GREEN BAY:
LB Ray Wilborn (undrafted free agent who’s tyring to make the team) spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


HOUSTON:
Starting LT Laremy Tunsil was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in mid-August for contacting reasons (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Starting RT Tytus Howard spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in mid-August for contacting reasons (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup OL Roderick Johnson was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in mid-August for contacting reasons (he was not vaccinated at that time). The Texans released Johnson on Aug. 18.
Reserve WR Taywan Taylor spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Reserve RB Buddy Howell spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


INDIANAPOLIS:
• Carson Wentz was wearing a mask at practice in mid-August. That likely means he wasn’t vaccinated at that time.
Starting CB Xavier Rhodes spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
OT Julien Davenport (who’ll likely be a backup) spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup DE Al-Quadin Muhammad spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


JACKSONVILLE:
Backup QB C.J. Beathard spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, getting activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
CB C.J. Henderson (first-rounder who had a disappointing rookie season) spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, getting activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup S Daniel Thomas was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


KANSAS CITY:
Two long snappers (Drew Scott, James Winchester) were on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in July.


LAS VEGAS:
• Daniel Carlson spent over two weeks on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, getting activated in mid-August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Jalen Richard spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, getting activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


LA CHARGERS:


LA RAMS:
Reserve WR Tutu Atwell spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


MIAMI:
• Mike Gesicki spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
TE Cethan Carter spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
TE Adam Shaheen spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup WR Preston Williams spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup LB Samuel Eguavoen was played on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 18.


MINNESOTA:
• Kirk Cousins says he’s not vaccinated and won’t be getting vaccinated. Cousins spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August through contacting protocols after backup QB Kellen Mond tested positive for COVID.
• Adam Thielen in June said he was not vaccinated. He and Cousins (see photo) were wearing masks at Minnesota’s first preseason game – an indication that neither is vaccinated.
Backup QB Kellen Mond spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August after testing positive for COVID.
Backup WR Myron Mitchell spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Safety Harrison Smith in June said he wasn’t vaccinated.
A story in The Washington Post in early August said the Vikings at that time had the league’s lowest vaccination rate (at just 65 percent)


NEW ENGLAND:
• Cam Newton refuses to say whether he’s vaccinated. He’s been wearing a mask at practices (and also on the sidelines of the first preseason game) making it appear that he is not vaccinated. Newton got COVID last year, missing a game.
• Mac Jones refuses to say whether he’s vaccinated, but he hasn’t been seen wearing a mask (so we’re thinking he is vaccinated but is refusing to answer as a way of supporting his fellow quarterback).


NEW ORLEANS:
Backup DB KeiVare Russell was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in mid-August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


NY GIANTS:
• Kadarius Toney spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in July (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup TE Rysen Johns spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Starting LB Blake Martinez and backup CB Joshua Kalu spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (they were not vaccinated at that time).


NY JETS:
OT George Fant spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


PHILADELPHIA:
DE Matt Leo, LB Alex Singleton and S Andrew Adams all spent time on Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (they were not vaccinated at that time).


PITTSBURGH:
• Najee Harris early in camp declined to answer whether he was vaccinated.


SAN FRANCISCO:
Backup WR Jauan Jennings spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
CB Emmanuel Moseley (who started eight games last year) spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


SEATTLE:


TAMPA BAY:
Starting safety Jordan Whitehead spent a week on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in late July (he was not vaccinated at that time).


TENNESSEE:
LB Bud Dupree spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in late July (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup CB Chris Jones spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).


WASHINGTON:
• Curtis Samuel spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
DT Daron Payne spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
DT Matt Ioannidis spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
G Brandon Scherff spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).
Backup OT David Sharpe was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (he was not vaccinated at that time).



—Ian Allan



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