NFL reduces testing for asymptomatic vaccinated players

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NEW YORK (AP) — Only unvaccinated players and those experiencing imaginable symptoms of COVID-19 volition beryllium tested, starting Sunday, nether the NFL’s revised protocols.

Also, higher hazard players person until 2 p.m. Monday to nonstop written announcement if they take to opt out, according to a memo sent to clubs connected Saturday and obtained by The Associated Press. The players volition not beryllium paid and the announcement is irrevocable.

“Medical accusation powerfully indicates that this variant is importantly much contagious but perchance little terrible than anterior variants, peculiarly for radical who are afloat vaccinated and person received a booster shot,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said successful different memo sent to clubs. “Our acquisition with the omicron variant is afloat accordant with this anticipation – portion much players and unit are investigating positive, astir two- thirds of those individuals are asymptomatic, astir of the remaining individuals person lone mild symptoms, and the microorganism appears to wide affirmative individuals much rapidly than was existent with the delta oregon earlier variants. In galore respects, omicron appears to beryllium a precise antithetic unwellness from the 1 that we archetypal confronted successful the outpouring of 2020.”

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On Friday, the league moved 3 games scheduled for this weekend due to the fact that of COVID-19 outbreaks: Las Vegas astatine Cleveland from Saturday to Monday; and Seattle astatine the Los Angeles Rams and Washington astatine Philadelphia from Sunday to Tuesday.

In summation to the targeted investigating program and the opt-out option, the caller protocols springiness much flexibility for players to be meetings virtually.

Earlier this week, the league and the NFL Players Association updated protocols to let asymptomatic vaccinated players to instrumentality sooner if they person 2 antagonistic tests connected the aforesaid day, oregon 1 antagonistic trial and an antibody trial shows the idiosyncratic has reached a definite level.

Dr. Tony Casolaro, main aesculapian serviceman for Washington, said successful a league telephone that 21 of 23 players connected the squad who tested affirmative would’ve been capable to signifier based connected mild symptoms.

“We volition proceed to show aesculapian and nationalist wellness developments, some mostly and astatine each club, and beryllium prepared to set protocols further arsenic conditions warrant, including to present greater flexibility based connected aesculapian considerations,” Goodell said.

Previously, the NFL did not program to determination immoderate games due to the fact that of coronavirus outbreaks. It adjacent said forfeits “could beryllium successful play.” But caller developments with the omicron strain of COVID-19 has changed the league’s reasoning — arsenic did respective outbreaks crossed the league entering Week 15 of the season.

The Browns had different starting lineman trial affirmative arsenic they practiced indoors Saturday successful mentation for the Raiders.

Rookie James Hudson III was added to the COVID-19 list, joining close defender Wyatt Teller and near tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. connected a database that reached 2 twelve players – and 12 starters.

With the league relaxing investigating protocols, it’s imaginable the Browns could get immoderate players backmost successful clip for the Raiders.

“If guys marque it back, that’s great,” said manager Kevin Stefanski, who besides is sidelined aft investigating positive. “If they don’t, we’ll beryllium conscionable fine.”

Elsewhere, the Chicago Bears activated chemoreceptor tackle Eddie Goldman from the reserve/COVID-19 database connected Saturday, clearing the mode for him to play successful crippled Monday nighttime against Minnesota.

Goldman was placed connected the database connected Tuesday. The Bears had 12 players connected it aft activating him, including receiver Allen Robinson and information Eddie Jackson.