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Update: Lindsay Jones reports that “there is no testing requirement for NFL players to be released from quarantine after five days, source confirms. So this will all hinge on players honestly reporting their symptoms after testing positive.”
First off, follow Lindsay. She's done incredible work covering all the changing mechanisms.
Second, players who now test positive on Monday or Tuesday will play. The NFL isn't allowing the pandemic to figure into the postseason, essentially. https://t.co/fH39Ewfa7l
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) December 28, 2021
NFL and NFLPA have agreed to adopt the CDC’s new Covid guidelines that reduce the quarantine time from 10 days to five days for all asymptomatic Covid positive players — including unvaccinated bad boys.
The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to modify COVID protocols in accordance with new CDC guidelines, cutting the standard isolation period after a positive test for asymptomatic individuals from 10 days to 5 days – regardless of vaccination status.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 28, 2021
The CDC updated its previous guidance on Monday to shorten the recommended isolation and quarantine period for the general population to five days.
“Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, [the] CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others,” the CDC said in a Monday release.
This change is significant. For example, Colts’ QB Carson Wentz tested positive Tuesday and is unvaccinated. Before today’s change, the NFL would have made Wentz sit out 10 days, thus missing this Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Wentz will now have a chance to play this weekend.
While updated protocols improve the NFL’s chances of getting players back, the league continues to excessively test players. On Tuesday, 39 tested positive for Covid.
*OutKick’s Meg Turner contributed to this article.
