Lions QB Matthew Stafford Placed on COVID-19 List
And Stafford makes eight.The Detroit Lions placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday making him the eighth player from the Lions to be put on the list.
The move means Stafford either tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, or was around someone who had. Players must stay on the list until they are medically cleared to return to their teams.
Matthew Stafford is the first staring quarterback to be placed on a reserve/COVID-19 list, although not the first quarterback. Falcons' Danny Etling had already being added. According to ESPN it's unclear how long Stafford will be out under NFL protocol, but the team is scheduled to start strength and conditioning workouts Monday.
Aside from teammates, Stafford has to be cautious in his homelife when it comes to exposure or testing positive for the coronavirus. He and wife Kelly, who had surgery for a brain tumor 15 months ago, have four young daughters under the age of 4 years old. The couple welcomed a new baby in June.
Stafford, along with other Lions players, reported to training camp this past Tuesday. The team took their first COVID-19 tests, a nasal swab in a trailer outside of their Allen Park practice facility. On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday they returned for additional rounds of testing. Once players passed all three rounds of testing they were allowed into the buildings for physicals and equipment distribution.
Stafford joins players Kenny Golladay, tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Isaac Nauta, cornerbacks Justin Coleman and Amani Oruwariye, punter Arryn Siposs and safety Jalen Elliott on the reserve/COVID-19 list.There has been no comment from the Lions coaching staff or Stafford at this time.
Update: It was announced Monday that Stafford did test positive for COVID-19.
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