New on Sports Illustrated: Report: NFL Adds Weekly Testing for Vaccinated Players to COVID-19 Protocols

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Fully vaccinated players will now undergo weekly COVID-19 testing during the 2021 season, per the NFL's latest protocols.

Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to updated COVID-19 protocols for the 2021 season, according to the NFL Network's

Tom Pelissero.

The updated protocols include weekly testing for fully vaccinated players and staff, per Pelissero. Vaccinated players can reportedly opt in to taking a voluntary second test each week, while unvaccinated players will reportedly be required to undergo a COVID-19 test every day at the club facility. 

Unvaccinated players will not be required to wear masks at outdoor practices or walkthroughs, though masks will still be required indoors. All team medical staff, strength and conditioning coaches and equipment staff will be required to wear masks.

The NFL did not make any update to its COVID-19 close-contact protocols, per Pelissero. Fully vaccinated individuals will not be designated high-risk close contacts, and only unvaccinated players are at risk of missing games without a positive test.

Numerous notable players have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in recent days, including Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Colts quarterback Carson Wentz. 

More NFL Coverage:

• Tom Brady's Forgotten Rookie Year
• Predicting Every Game of the 2021 Season
• How Derrick Henry Handles a Throwback Workload
• An Early Look at the 2022 NFL Quarterback Carousel

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