The NFL is changing its Covid-19 protocols as cases rise

In a memo obtained Thursday by CNN, the league’s 32 teams have been placed in restrictive protocols until Monday.

Teams have to reimpose restrictions such as mandatory mask-wearing while indoors in team facilities, social distancing, grab-and-go meal service in team cafeterias, limits on the number of people allowed in weight rooms, restrictions on activities outside the facility including dining out to eat on the road and all-virtual meetings.

And at least one player isn’t at all pleased. Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield, one of more than a dozen Browns on the reserve/Covid-19 list, spoke out ahead of his team’s scheduled game on Saturday versus the Las Vegas Raiders.

In another tweet, Mayfield wrote, “Actually caring about player safety would mean delaying the game with this continuing at the rate it is.”

Mayfield’s teammate, Jarvis Landry, in retweeting a post that asked whether the game should be postponed, wrote: “Should not even be a question !! YES.”

CNN has asked the Browns for an updated number of players on the reserve/Covid-19 list. As of Wednesday, there were 14 players but it was unclear whether all the test results were known then.

A league source has told CNN that 28 NFL players tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday and there were 37 positive tests among players on Monday.

The two-day total is more than double the 29 positive tests from players between November 14 — 27, the last publicly released testing data from the NFL.

CNN has reached out to the league for an updated number of positive cases.

In addition, the Washington Football team has 21 players on the list and the Los Angeles Rams have 25. An NFL roster comprises 53 players.

The NFL describes the reserve/Covid-19 list as being for players who either test positive for Covid-19 or who have been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons.