The news that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers contracted COVID-19 and remains unvaccinated came as a shock to many because he misled the public to believe he had been vaccinated prior to the season.
Not only that, but unvaccinated players are required to follow different protocols than fully vaccinated players and there was one glaring rule it appeared Rodgers was not following.
The 37-year-old quarterback has been conducting his weekly press conferences indoors without a mask on.
While the NFL’s COVID safety protocols do not have any specific language about press conferences, it does state that players who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks at all times when inside the Club facility.
The only exception to this rule is when players are eating.
Players who do not adhere to the NFL's guidelines are subject to discipline.
The NFL released a statement later on Wednesday saying it would investigate whether or not the Green Bay Packers adequately enforced the league's COVID protocols.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Rodgers was following masking protocols inside the facility while interacting with players and coaches but was unmasked for press conferences inside the media auditorium.
Demovsky noted that other unvaccinated players on the Packers have conducted press conferences via Zoom instead of in-person.
While Rodgers told reporters in August he was “immunized,” the NFL has considered Rodgers unvaccinated since the start of the season.
Related
Per Demovsky, Rodgers actually petitioned the league to have an “alternate treatment” that he underwent that would allow him to fall under the category of vaccinated players, but his request was denied after a lengthy back and forth.
It is unclear what the "alternate treatment" Rodgers insisted on was.
Rodgers will not play this Sunday against the Chiefs as a result of his positive COVID test.
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