Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol and will miss this weekend’s game at Kansas City.
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Rodgers was in the protocol, but would not say if Rodgers had tested positive nor if the reigning NFL MVP has been vaccinated.
“I’m not going to get into any of our coaches’ or players’ vaccination status,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur also didn’t speculate on how long Rodgers might be out.
“I just know that he won’t be available this week,” LaFleur said. “And we have a great opponent we’re going against, and then we’ll address next week when we get there.”
Rodgers is the latest Packers player to deal with the coronavirus. Wide receivers Davante Adams, a 2020 All-Pro, and Allen Lazard missed last week’s victory at Arizona because of COVID-19 protocols.
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Vaccinated players who test positive are allowed to return after they have two negative tests that are taken at least 24 hours apart. Unvaccinated players who test positive are isolated for at least 10 days.
Sources told NFL Media that Rodgers has not received one of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Rodgers was asked at an August 26 media session whether he had been vaccinated.
“Yeah, I’ve been immunised,” Rodgers replied. “You know, there’s a lot of conversation around it, around the league, and a lot of guys who have made statements and not made statements, owners who have made statements. There’s guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys. There are guys that’ve been vaccinated that have contracted COVID. It’s an interesting issue that I think we’re going to see played out the entire season.”
Rodgers previously had sought and was denied an exemption from the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 protocols based on his antibody levels in the offseason, which left his status as unvaccinated, NFL Media reported.
Rodgers received homeopathic treatment from his personal doctor to raise his antibody levels and asked the NFLPA to review his status.
However the NFL-NFLPA jointly designated infectious disease consultant and the league agreed that Rodgers’ treatment did not qualify for protection from the coronavirus.
Last season’s MVP remained subject to a variety of restrictions, including daily testing, mask-wearing and high-risk close contact protocol that would force him to isolate for five days based on interaction with a positive individual, even if he tested negative.
The star’s vaccination status has raised eyebrows in the US media, especially since Rodgers has attended several press conferences without a mask, in contravention of league protocols.
In a statement, the NFL said: “The primary responsibility for enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols within club facilities rests with each club. Failure to properly enforce the protocols has resulted in discipline being assessed against individual clubs in the past. The league is aware of the current situation in Green Bay and will be reviewing the matter with the Packers.”
LaFleur was asked whether Rodgers’ August 26 comment about being “immunised” might be seen as misleading to fans if the quarterback was indeed unvaccinated.
“That’s a great question for Aaron,” LaFleur said. “I’m not going to comment on it.”
Green Bay’s backup quarterback is 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love, who has thrown seven passes in his short career.
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The third-stringer, Kurt Benkert, is on the practice squad but was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on Tuesday. That leaves Love as the lone available quarterback on Green Bay’s roster, at least for now.
Love’s lone regular-season game appearances came when he played the fourth quarter of a 38-3 season-opening loss to New Orleans, and took three kneel-downs at the end of a 35-17 victory over Detroit. LaFleur said Love has been working primarily with the scout team since the start of the season.
“I said (to the team), ‘It’s a great challenge. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us and we all have to prepare to the best of our ability to go down there and get a win,’ “ LaFleur said. ”And that’s the mindset. They’re not going to postpone or cancel the game. We have a game to play and it’s a next-man up mentality and that’s how we’ve operated for everybody. I think our guys will rally around Jordan. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him and what a great opportunity for him to showcase what he can do.”
LaFleur said he had “briefly” spoken with Rodgers since the news came out. He also talked with Love to let the second-year pro know to expect to start Sunday’s game.
“We talk about having that no-flinch mentality and I didn’t see any flinch in him,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s excited about the opportunity. I think he’ll prepare the right way and give it everything he has.”
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