Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley entered the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols on Tuesday as a close contact to a team coach who tested positive for the coronavirus.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the details around the Bills’ situation, as Beasley, wideout Gabriel Davis and defensive tackle Star Lotulelei will be away from the team for five days:
More details: The Bills’ trainer who tested positive was fully vaccinated. Beasley was in close contact with him yesterday and tested negative for covid today, as did Gabe Davis and Star Lotulelei, who all were all sent home and all tested negative. https://t.co/APlxWWumsg
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2021
Beasley has been an outspoken opponent of COVID-19 vaccinations, taking to social media numerous times on the issue. Politicizing vaccines as a “personal choice” has been commonplace across the United States.
The NFL is enforcing extremely strict parameters for its COVID protocols, which are designed to encourage all personnel to get vaccinated. That Bills coach who tested positive, as Schefter noted, is fully vaccinated.
These breakthrough cases among those who are vaccinated are becoming more frequent as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads.
New England Patriots QB Cam Newton is another unvaccinated player who is away from his team after a COVID testing mishap, which may cost him his starting job to rookie signal-caller Mac Jones.
Although it’s not expected that Beasley will miss significant time, he’s a key piece to a Buffalo offense that unlocked a new level in 2020, as Josh Allen emerged as a legitimate superstar in his third year under center.
The Bills have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations after making a trip to the AFC Championship Game, but like any team, they’re always susceptible to a potential untimely COVID outbreak. It seems like a competitive disadvantage not to be vaccinated, but Beasley and those like him are likely to continue resisting.
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