Panthers send players home after a number of players tested positive for COVID-19
The Carolina Panthers are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak within their team, coach Matt Rhule said Monday.
Rhule said he wasn’t sure at the time how many players tested positive, but said it was “somewhat significant.”
Among those who tested positive were Panthers pro bowl defensive end Brian Burns, a league source said. He was placed on the reserve/COVID list.
The Panthers later confirmed the news in a news release and also put linebacker Shaq Thompson, defensive end Marquis Haynes Sr., defensive tackle Phil Hoskins, defensive end Daviyon Nixon and center Matt Paradis on the list.
Nixon and Paradis are out for the year with injuries.
To stop the spread, all players were sent home Monday and will conduct meetings virtually. The team is continuing to conduct tests.
Burns and Thompson are two of the Panthers’ most important players. Burns is second on the team in sacks (9), and Thompson is second in tackles (91). Both played Sunday against the Buccaneers.
“A lot of the young guys, guys like me can step up and take on the spot, and take on that role,” said linebacker Frankie Luvu, who recently came off the COVID list earlier this month. “I’m willing to play whatever role they want me to play.”
The news of the potential outbreak comes at a time when COVID-19 cases across the country are rising at a significant rate, as the Omicron variant becomes dominant in the United States.
A number of NFL teams have dealt with outbreaks in recent weeks, and some have had their games postponed. The Panthers are scheduled to play the New Orleans Saints this coming Sunday at 4:25 p.m. on FOX.
The game was flexed on Monday.
“It’s tough,” Panthers defensive tackle DaQuan Jones said Monday. “This whole Covid thing is tough and all you can do is follow protocol and pray for the best.”
In all, the Panthers have 13 players on the list, including wide receiver Brandon Zylstra, cornerback Rashaan Melvin, center Pat Elflein, guard Dennis Daley, quarterback Matt Barkley, safety Sam Franklin and defensive end Azur Kamara.
Defensive end Austin Larkin is also on the practice squad reserve/COVID list.
Rhule indicated that a few quality control coaches were not in the building last week because of COVID.
These players may have the potential to test out and play on Sunday. The NFL updated its protocols earlier this month, and now only requires two negative tests on the same day for vaccinated players who are asymptomatic.
Also, fully vaccinated players are no longer required to be tested weekly.
“I think it’s weird how we went from having to test every week to now only testing if you have symptoms,” Jones said. “At the same time, I see what they are trying to do, but you can’t sit there and see you really care about player safety if you just want the game to be played.”
“We should probably test how we’ve been doing all season just to make sure people are keeping their families safe,” Jones continued, “but clearly right now, we’re just trying to play football games.”
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 12:39 PM.
