Covid protocols put sports stars on the sidelines
Two of the leagues have been forced to postpone games due to outbreaks and all three are losing key players due to the Covid-19 protocols. They include the man who dropped 50 points in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, a former NBA MVP and a three-time NFL Pro Bowler.
But they weren’t the only players sent to the sidelines as the number of players testing positive — like Covid-19 case numbers in the US — is on the rise.
Here’s a look at Tuesday’s Covid news from the three big professional sports leagues:
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo — the reigning NBA Finals MVP — became the latest prominent player to enter the league’s health and safety protocols. He will miss Wednesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, according to the Bucks’ injury report.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets announced ahead of their game Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors that their list of players in the protocols has grown to seven with the addition of star James Harden.
On Monday, the NBA postponed games for the first time this season because of Covid-19.
With 10 players and additional staff members in the health and safety protocols, the Chicago Bulls scheduled games for Tuesday and Thursday were postponed. And the team’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday was moved from 2:30 p.m. CT to 7 p.m.
The Lakers canceled practice in Los Angeles on Tuesday. No reason was given but according to ESPN, the decision was due to Covid-19 concerns.
ESPN reported the practice was canceled after guard Talen Horton-Tucker returned a positive coronavirus test, citing a team announcement.
Horton-Tucker is now on the Lakers health and safety protocols list.
Players in the protocol must quarantine for 10 days or have two negative tests in a 24-hour period. Bulls players have entered the protocols on different days over the past weeks.
A league source told CNN last week that 97% of NBA players are vaccinated, with 60% of eligible players having received a booster shot. There are about 500 players across 30 rosters.
No major professional sports league in the United States has required its players to be vaccinated.
Rams star receiver joins 12 teammates on list
A National Football League source told CNN that 28 players tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.
The news comes a day after the league saw 37 positive tests among players Monday. The two-day total more than doubles the 29 positive tests from players between November 14-27, the last publicly released testing data from the NFL.
Among dozens of additions to the league’s Covid-19/Reserve list, the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams were most heavily impacted. The Browns added eight players to the list while the Rams added seven. The Los Angeles Rams later announced an additional two players would be headed to the list.
The Browns’ Tuesday additions included five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry and two-time Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper.
“We are in the intensive protocols, which means you are wearing masks in the building, virtual meetings,…
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