Green Bay Packers lose receiver to reserve/COVID-19 list
The Green Bay Packers cannot catch a break as they continue to deal with a rash of COVID-19 Cases within the clubhouse. On Tuesday, the team announced that they are placing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the reserve/ COVID-19 list.
Valdes-Scantling helped the Packers defeat the Baltimore Ravens in last week’s Sunday night primetime matchup 31-30. Green Bay’s speedy receiver had one of his best games of the season against the Ravens. He caught 5 catches for 98 yards and one touchdown.
With the announcement coming on Tuesday, it is unlikely he will be cleared in time to play in the Packers’ upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns. However, there is some hope after the new NFL protocols have made it easier for players to return from the reserve/ COVID-19 list.
The Packers will face the Browns at home in a Christmas Day matchup. The game will be a Saturday afternoon game scheduled to kick off at 3:30 PM CDT.
Mayfield recently slammed the NFL for COVID-19 protocols
The NFL recently changed protocols after the spread of COVID-19 grew worse across the league. Following the league’s changes, Mayfield took to Twitter to share his brutally honest thoughts.
“@NFL Make up your damn mind on protocols. Showing up and making only 3 teams test?!? All so you can keep the game as scheduled to make money,” Mayfield tweeted on Thursday night in reaction to the league’s sudden changes to their policies due to a widespread outbreak throughout multiple teams.
“Actually caring about player safety would mean delaying the game with this continuing at the rate it is…. But to say you won’t test vaccinated players if they don’t have symptoms, then to pull this randomly. Doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Mayfield missed Monday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, as did backup quarterback Case Keenum due to COVID-19 protocols. That left Nick Mullens to start for the Browns. The Raiders ultimately won on Sunday on a last second, game winning field goal.
Browns head coach Kevan Stefanski updated the status of Mayfield, as well as his own status. Stefanski was also out on Monday due to COVID-19 protocols.
“Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Tuesday that his 10th day in quarantine under the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, which falls on Christmas Day when the Browns play the Green Bay Packers, won’t prevent him from returning to the Browns sideline,” NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread wrote. “Stefanski added that he expects to have quarterback Baker Mayfield available for Week 16, as well.”
Both Mayfield and Stefanski could be forced to travel on their own to Green Bay, depending on when they are able to test out of protocols. To test out, Mayfield or Stefanski need two consecutive negative tests that come 24 hours apart.