Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie revealed on Thursday he has been fined $14,650 by the National Football League for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players not wearing a mask in team facilities.
According to the letter sent to McKenzie, the 26-year-old was seen on two separate occasions by league personnel visiting Orchard Park on Wednesday not wearing a mask. The first instance came at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET when he walked through the fieldhouse and into the training room. Then at around 4:35 p.m. ET, McKenzie was seen again without a mask for "several minutes" while in a meeting area of the weight room with other players.
Also in the letter, the NFL said McKenzie violated the protocols "shortly after league staff gave a presentation on Aug. 25 regarding the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 Protocols, including the mask-wearing requirements and that unvaccinated players are subject to fines/discipline for refusal to wear a mask."
In addition, McKenzie's letter disclosed that he was given a written warning back on July 27 for violating the COVID-19 Protocols for refusing to wear a mask.
The fifth-year veteran was not practicing with his teammates on Wednesday after injuring his left shoulder during Tuesday's session after a collision with safety Jordan Poyer. He was reportedly set to have a MRI on his shoulder, and his arm was seen in a sling at practice the next day.
McKenzie's teammate Cole Beasley responded to McKenzie shortly after revealing that he, too, has been fined for violating the NFL's COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players. Beasley did not make mention of how much he was fined by the league.
Beasley is currently not practicing with his teammates after he was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday for being a close contact of a team trainer that tested positive for COVID-19. Despite testing negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Beasley still must undergo a five-day re-entry process because he remains unvaccinated.
Also placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday with Beasley included wide receiver Gabriel Davis, as well as defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Vernon Butler. Linebackers A.J. Klein and Matt Milano were also sent home on Tuesday as a precaution, but they were never deemed as close contacts and were able to return to practice on Wednesday.
Beasley has been quite outspoken about the COVID-19 vaccine, taking to social media on multiple occasions to voice his opinions. At the start of training camp, he released a statement on the matter, saying "I'm not anti- or pro-vax, I'm pro-choice."
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Thursday there is "a chance" players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list will be able to return in time for Saturday's preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers.
Following their recent fines by the NFL, both McKenzie and Beasley are now subject to further discipline from the league for violating the league's COVID-19 Protocols again. According to NFL Network reported Tom Pelissero, this could include a maximum fine of one week's salary and/or a four-game unpaid suspension by the league.
Pelissero also said on Thursday that players are generally warned about violations of the COVID-19 Protocols before being issued a fine or other discipline from the league. Beasley was fined for a violation that was caught on video on Tuesday.
The Bills will practice one last time on Thursday before Saturday's preseason finale at Highmark Stadium.