Taylor Heinicke tests positive for COVID-19

Posted by Josh Alper on December 17, 2021, 10:08 AM EST
NFL - Dallas Cowboys at Washington Football Team
Getty Images

The COVID-19 outbreak with the Washington Football Team now includes their starting quarterback.

According to multiple reports, Heinicke has tested positive for COVID-19. He will be placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and, under the revised protocols put in place on Thursday, could test back onto the active roster as soon as Saturday.

Kyle Allen was placed on the COVID-19 list earlier this week and will be unavailable unless his tests today or tomorrow allow him to return to action.

Washington has Kyle Shurmur and Jordan Ta’amu on their practice squad and, per multiple reports, they are signing Garrett Gilbert off the Patriots practice squad on Friday. If Heinicke and Allen remain out, one of them will start against the Eagles in a game that will deal a serious blow to the playoff hopes of the loser.

Permalink 25 Comments Feed for comments Back to top

25 responses to “Taylor Heinicke tests positive for COVID-19”

  1. The revised protocols are not enough.

    Omicron is not stoppable. And it’s everywhere.

    And tons of people are testing positive with absolutely zero symptoms.

    Let the players play.

  2. It’s hard to imagine that all the gambling entities are enjoying seeing NFL rosters devastated this week by Covid.
    How can Games possibly be competitive with so many players missing from the teams? I wonder how some teams will be able to field a team at all let alone a competitive one?!

  5. This virus is never going away. The NFL needs to realize this and just move on. Quit acting like we’re gonna “conquer” this. Ain’t happening.

  7. After this year, the PCR test, known for many false positive results will no longer be authorized for use. At least one Rams player had a false positive and got off the Covid list.

  10. skinsprinting says:
    December 17, 2021 at 10:15 am
    It’s hard to imagine that all the gambling entities are enjoying seeing NFL rosters devastated this week by Covid.
    How can Games possibly be competitive with so many players missing from the teams? I wonder how some teams will be able to field a team at all let alone a competitive one?!
    /////////
    Oh Please. Some of you have lost your minds. Nfl practice squads are 16 players. That’s 16 players that are in the building and practicing every single day. And, teams only suit up 48 out of the 53 on the active roster. So, that gives them 23 extra players. And who cares about degenerate gamblers? You don’t cancel games because people don’t like the money line. Nobody cries when a few starters go down. You suit up and play the game. Or, since it’s only football, and if it’s dangerous due to covid, you cancel games.

  11. Just forfeit at this point. Force the shields hand to reconsider the date of the game. They don’t have a defensive line, half an O line, no center, almost no secondary, no qbs. Just forfeit to not get people hurt.

  13. For the integrity of the game, for player safety, and for competitive fairness, we will move no games back even one day.

    (and also for TV contracts…)

  14. I am still waiting to hear the death rates from omicron, or even if there are long-term side effects. So far…crickets chirping. Lots of people getting it, nobody dying, which makes omicron on the level of the common cold. Frankly, the NFL is playing this way too safe so far.

  15. I find it ironic that Goddell will do back flips to protect a degenerate owner like Dan Snyder who appears to be guilty of multiple crimes but won’t move a game back to ensure player safety.

    I love NFL football and will always watch it, but calling it as I see it, it’s a rotten organization. The NFLPA is right. Logic would dictate postponing these games — not just WFT but also Browns at the very least and maybe the Rams as well. They could work it out with TV if they really wanted to. It’s BS.

  18. Each new variant needs to be treated as a seperate Illness. The Original China virus And Delta variants were and still are extremely dangerous. This Particular strain is somewhere between a common cold and the Flu and we dont cancel games or force players not to play with those types of Coronaviruses and this one should be treated accordingly. Each new strain will have its symptons and should be graded on its own. IE hospitalizations,Fatality rate are factors that should govern how it’s treated.

  19. goldstardk says:
    December 17, 2021 at 10:50 am
    Are we sure he’s vaccinated?

    ——-

    In terms of his ability to spread the virus to others, it makes no difference

  24. kenmasters34 says:
    December 17, 2021 at 12:20 pm
    Its just not going away. If players are vaccinated and not showing symptoms, let them play.
    ////////
    You do know that means they can infect others, right? That it’s not just young and healthy athletes in the teams buildings, right? That even a couple coaches are old and cancer survivors, and many other people could actually be infected, get sick, and even die. You know all this, right? That’s like saying just let infected children go to school, without regard for teachers, staff, and other employees.

  25. firerogergoodellnow says:
    December 17, 2021 at 10:39 am
    After this year, the PCR test, known for many false positive results will no longer be authorized for use.
    ///////
    The truth is; the pcr test is the gold standard and is known for very few false positives. Exactly the opposite of what you are claiming. Facts matter.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.