Two days earlier than the Minnesota Vikings face the most effective groups within the N.F.L., quarterback Kirk Cousins examined constructive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and was positioned on the crew’s Covid-19 reserve record, a transfer that may sideline him for no less than 5 days.
Cousins and the Vikings (7-8) are one sport again within the N.F.C. playoff race, a spot the crew had hoped to shut Sunday night time in prime time towards the Green Bay Packers. Instead, Cousins’s absence will deal a critical blow to his crew’s probabilities, a well-recognized situation in a season by which rampant constructive assessments amongst N.F.L. gamers and coaches has made chaos of groups’ preparations.
After greater than 90 N.F.L. gamers examined constructive on Monday, the N.F.L. and the N.F.L. Players Association agreed on Tuesday to amended this season’s Covid-19 protocols to reflect new steering from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccinated and unvaccinated gamers can return from quarantine in 5 days, not 10, if they’re asymptomatic. The league has a 94 p.c vaccination price amongst gamers.
The change has given different groups trying to make the playoffs hope that star gamers will be capable to return earlier than essential video games on Sunday and Monday, the penultimate week of the common season. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz, for instance, was amongst 39 gamers who examined constructive on Tuesday. He can be evaluated Sunday earlier than his crew’s sport towards the Las Vegas Raiders, who’re two video games again within the A.F.C. playoff race.