(Kansas City) The Kansas City Chiefs added wide receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Rashad Fenton and insert back Blake Bell to their COVID-19-related roster on Tuesday.
Charvarius Ward was already on the roster, which means two of the Chiefs’ top three cornerbacks are in NFL protocols. The Kansas City team also saw quarterback Travis Kelce, kicker Harrison Butker, defensive tackle Chris Jones, linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and wide receiver Josh Gordon land on this list.
They added linebacker Nick Bolton, offensive linemen Kyle Long and Lucas Niang, and safety back Armani Watts on Tuesday.
Another receiver from an aspiring American Association team tested positive when Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list. His status for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots is uncertain.
The Bills could be without two starting receivers. Emmanuel Sanders missed his team’s victory last weekend with a knee injury.
Beasley, who was fined by the NFL last summer for not wearing a mask inside team premises, threatened to retire in June on the grounds that COVID protocols -19 league specifically targeted unvaccinated players.
As for the Chiefs, Jones, Gay and Gordon tested positive last week and they missed their team’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers. There is a high chance the line could present two successive negative tests and the players would be available for this week’s clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kelce, Butker and Ward tested positive on Monday, when the Chiefs returned from their long weekend. The team haven’t had any formal meetings or training until Tuesday and will begin their match preparation in earnest on Wednesday.
Prior to the past two weeks, the Chiefs had managed to get away with COVID-19 this season. They had lost the services of star safety half Tyrann Mathieu for a week and a few role players.
The rapid transmission of the omicron variant through the NFL, however, hit the Chiefs hard, forcing them to place several important players on the roster.
Hill is second in the NFL with 102 catches and fourth with 1,178 receiving yards. He caught 12 balls for 148 yards and a major in the game against the Chargers.
Meanwhile, Kelce is coming back from a career-high 10 catches and 191 yards against the Chargers. He tied the game with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter and gave his team the win in overtime.
Kelce has tallied 1,066 receiving yards this season, hitting the 1,000 yard mark for the sixth straight year. This is a Chiefs and NFL record for inserted running backs.
Defensive tackle Tim Settle, cornerback Troy Apke and halfback Sammis Reyes, all of the Washington Soccer Team, just got off protocol and had time to board a private plane. to participate in Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen did not test negative in time, which means Garrett Gilbert will be the starter for Washington training. Guard Brandon Scherff, cornerback Kendall Fullet, tackle Cornelius Lucas and safety back Kamren Curl will all be missing due to COVID-19 protocols.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Pernell McPhee has been placed on the COVID-19 reserve list. He was on the injured list but was designated for a return to play on Monday.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Houston Texans defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson have also been placed on the COVID-19 roster.