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Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN
BUFFALO, NY – Buffalo Bills receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis will miss the next five days of practice after being considered close contacts by a team coach who tested positive for COVID-19, he confirmed Tuesday a league source. Defensive attack Star Lotulelei is also in quarantine, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
All three tested negative for the virus Tuesday morning, but must lose practice anyway, according to NFL policy COVID-19. The coach is completely vaccinated, a source told Schefter.
The New York Daily News was the first to report the news of Beasley and Davis being in quarantine.
NFL policy, which largely restricts unvaccinated players while allowing vaccinated players to return to normal, sparked criticism from Beasley in June, when he tweeted that he was not vaccinated and would continue to “live my only life. as I want “.
NFL policies include more frequent testing, masks, and social distancing at team facilities and during team trips for unvaccinated players. It also requires unvaccinated players to stay away from the team for five days if they are considered to have close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19; vaccinated players should not be quarantined if they are a close contact.
However, it was the frequency of testing with which Beasley was most critical: unvaccinated players are tested daily according to the policy governing preseason and training camp, while vaccinated players only need to be tested. every two weeks.
“It’s common sense that if a vaxxed or unxx player is tested less frequently, the likelihood of a player being caught by COVID decreases dramatically,” Beasley said. “As for the safety of the players, I will conclude by saying that we all want to be safe.”
Beasley was the second receiver for the Bills in 2020, recording 967 yards in 82 catches, both professional highs. Meanwhile, Davis ’seven touchdowns were good for the team’s second half during his rookie year last season.