COVID Is Hitting the NFL and NBA Hard Again
As COVID-19 numbers rise nationally in the winter months, it was only a matter of time until that hit the sports world. As we've seen early this week -- and specifically on Tuesday -- COVID is once again hitting the sports world hard.
On Monday, the NFL was hit with a whopping 37 positive tests. That was the most since the start of the pandemic in 2020. And the number is now more than 60 positives in the last two days.
Today was the NFL’s highest number of player positives since Covid began.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2021
With over 60 players going on the COVID list with positive tests the past two days, NFL exec Larry Ferazani delivered an impassioned speech at today’s labor seminar, telling team officials they finished last season on time and can do it again.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 14, 2021
Full speed ahead to Super Bowl LVI.
Christian McCaffrey was added to the list on Tuesday.
#Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey, on IR and out for the season, tested positive for COVID-19, source said. Another NFL big name.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 14, 2021
And the Los Angeles Rams have such a big COVID problem that they closed their practice facility and have entered the NFL's "intensive protocols."
Now due to COVID, the Rams have closed their training facility and have entered the NFL’s intensive protocols.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 14, 2021
It's not just the NFL being smacked by the virus. The NBA has been hit hard too. The Nets currently have five players in COVID protocols.
LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Bembry, Jevon Carter and James Johnson join Paul Millsap in Covid protocols for the Nets now, team says. https://t.co/cWBi84sCmt
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 14, 2021
And on Tuesday the Los Angeles Lakers cancelled practice after Talen Horton-Tucker tested positive for the virus.
The Lakers say the have canceled practice due to the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols. No details yet on cases/who is affected.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) December 14, 2021
That all came after the NBA postponed the Chicago Bulls' next two games as there are currently 10 players in health and safety protocols, plus additional staff members.
While we'd all love for COVID to be in the rearview mirror, it simply isn't. Despite being nearly two years into this thing, we don't have the virus beaten yet. It's almost certainly going to impact the rest of the season in every major sport.
This is now the third NBA season to be impacted by the pandemic. I has to be exhausting for the players, coaches and staff members dealing with it constantly. But this is the world we live in right now.