Amidst the biggest covid outbreak among NFL players across the league since the outset of the pandemic, the Pittsburgh Steelers late Wednesday afternoon announced their first addition of the week to the league’s covid list.
Per team/league policy, the Steelers did not say if defensive tackle Montravius Adams tested positive, though it is assumed via league protocols that he likely did. Vaccinated players are not subject to contact tracing via current protocols.
Adams, who has played in two games for the Steelers since being signed Nov. 30, did not practice Wednesday. The Steelers’ injury report was released before word of Adams going on the covid list was, and Adams was listed as having “illness.”
Thirty-six players across the league went on the covid list Monday, the most in any day since the pandemic began in 2020. A repeat of roughly that many came the following day, and Wednesday the reports of covid cases seemed to be coming in rapid-fire succession across the league. Two of the highest-profile cases were Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and coach Kevin Stefanski.
A player who is vaccinated and tests positive must remain in isolation until he is asymptomatic for 48 hours and tests negative on consecutive days before he can rejoin his teammates. The Steelers over the past month had important players such as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick miss games because of covid. Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt missed a full week of practice after a positive test but was cleared to play in that Sunday’s game.
The NFL is reportedly considering adjusting its protocols as covid cases spike nationwide and with its regular season’s stretch run and playoffs in the near future.
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