After not needing to send any of their players to the NFLs brand-new Reserve/Covid -19 list between its intro in mid-June and Week 3 of the routine season more than three months later, the New England Patriots now have three on it: quarterback Web cam Newton and cornerback Stephon Gilmore have actually evaluated positive for the unique Coronavirus on Friday and Tuesday, respectively, with practice squad defensive take on Costs Murray likewise joining them on the list.
Under the leagues previous terms, all three of them needed to sit out a minimum of 5 days before returning regardless of whether they developed signs or not. This waiting duration has now been eliminated, however: as first reported by NFL Networks Tom Pelissero, the league has decided to customize its Coronavirus procedures– consisting of the rules for players returning from the Covid-19 reserve list.
Those rules now look as follows:
Gamers experiencing Covid-19 signs have to remove from group centers as soon as possible and can not return up until they are tested negative two times separated by 24 hours.
Players who checked positive however are asymptomatic will need to follow the following 3 steps before being allowed to return:
10 days have passed considering that the initial favorable test; or
2 consecutive negative tests separated by 24 hours, and
Return authorized by the teams and the NFLs medical personnel.
Gamers who tested favorable and are symptomatic will need to go through the following five actions before being allowed to return:
What does all of this mean for the Patriots and the three players mentioned above? In theory, the modification in procedure could accelerate their return timeline a bit. While the previously mentioned five-day window that was originally a part of the leagues rules did no longer concern Cam Newton after he currently tested favorable last Friday, it could be good news for Stephon Gilmore if he– like Newton– stays asymptomatic: all he needs to return now is two negative tests separated by 24 hours.
What does all of this mean for the Patriots and the 3 gamers discussed above? In theory, the modification in procedure might speed up their return timeline a bit. While the previously mentioned five-day window that was originally a part of the leagues guidelines did no longer concern Cam Newton after he already checked favorable last Friday, it could be good news for Stephon Gilmore if he– like Newton– stays asymptomatic: all he requires to return now is 2 unfavorable tests separated by 24 hours.
At least 10 days have passed because the Covid-19 symptoms were first reported to a teams medical staff, and
At least 24 hours have actually passed because the last fever without the use of fever-reducing medication, and
Other signs like cough or shortness of breath have actually enhanced, and
The return is approved by the groups and the NFLs medical staff, and
Local regulations and requirements are met.
While getting them back on the field soon will be the preferable outcome from a football perspective, the most crucial thing, of course, is that they fully recuperate from Covid-19 before rejoining their colleagues– some of which had remained in close contact with both of them. Still, the Patriots, from a football perspective, ought to feel great about this procedural modification.
