The Green Bay Packers are holding virtual meetings in place of in-person activities Monday following a new positive COVID-19 test from one of its players.
"The Packers were informed today that a player has tested positive for COVID-19," the team said in a statement. "Our organization has entered the NFL's intensive protocol and the player has self-quarantined. We will continue to work with the league on contact tracing as we follow the guidelines of intensive protocol. All player meetings will be conducted virtually today.
"Our focus continues to be on the health and safety of our players, staff and community. We will continue to work closely with the ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøand medical professionals and follow their guidance."
Running back AJ Dillon was the player who tested positive, ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork's Tom Pelissero reported, per a source informed of the situation. Green Bay placed Dillon on the reserve/COVID-19 list later Monday.
¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork Insider Ian Rapoport later reported, per an informed source, that Dillon's backfield mate, Jamaal Williams, and linebacker Kamal Martin are considered to be close contacts. Both did not practice Monday and the league is determining if they are high-risk close contacts, Rapoport added.
Pelissero noted that if they're determined to be high-risk close contacts, they won't be eligible to play on Thursday Night Football against the 49ers. If both are cleared, they could be back in the building as soon as Tuesday.
Contact tracing has begun within the Packers organization, which could affect the team's status for Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. With Aaron Jones missing Sunday's game due to injury, the Packers were already working with a limited number of running backs before Dillon's test, creating concern about their ability to suit up Thursday.
Dillon's positive test came from Sunday's pregame testing, per Pelissero. Dillon played 14 snaps in Green Bay's loss to Minnesota, per Next Gen Stats, rushing five times for 21 yards.
The ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøand NFLPA agreed to game-day PCR testing for the novel coronavirus starting in Week 6, with results arriving late Sunday or early Monday, per Pelissero. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey also tested positive in Sunday's pre-game testing, .
The Arizona Cardinals also had two confirmed positive tests within their team over the weekend, but after contact tracing showed limited interactions with those testing positive and no new positive tests since, the team will move forward with .
Cardinals linebacker Devon Kennard announced on Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19. Cornerback Byron Murphy joins him on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced.
