DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The NFL made some adjustments to their COVID-19 protocols Thursday, but it appears their biggest adjustment could be on the horizon.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked about the league's decision to alter the policy on the virus during his weekly visit with the K&C Masterpiece Friday morning on 105.3 The Fan, and he said more changes are on the way.
"I think we will get to a point probably this week that we'll only test if symptomatic, that's if you've been vaccinated. That's a good thing. Test when you're symptomatic and that's it," Jones said. "I think we've about gotten to a point where the players' union and the league are on the same page to get that done."
The current NFL policy calls for players who are vaccinated to be tested once every week, while unvaccinated players are tested daily.
The league has been able to get through the first three months of the season without a team experiencing a major outbreak. However, the new variant Omicron, which is highly transmissible, but appears to produce milder cases, is likely the cause as to why over 100 players have gone on the Reserve/COVID-19 list this week. Organizations including the Cleveland Browns, Washington Football Team, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants have had several players enter the protocol, most of which are vaccinated and aren't experiencing symptoms. The others only have mild symptoms.
The league announced on Thursday that all 32 teams will be in “intensive COVID-19 protocols” until the end of Week 15. This requires mandatory mask-wearing in team facilities, social distancing, grab-and-go meal service in team cafeterias, all-virtual meetings, a limited number of people in the weight rooms, and restrictions outside the facility.
Players must remain in the hotel on road trips and no longer able to entertain visitors – a rule that was in place last season, as well.
Teams that have already entered intensive protocols due to outbreaks will continue daily testing regardless of vaccination status but the rest of the teams will not need to do this.
The return-to-play protocols are also being adjusted to make it easier for players who are vaccinated and asymptomatic to return to practice and games.
The new protocols allow for asymptomatic individuals to take two PCR tests, two Mesa tests, or one PCR and one Mesa test concurrently, and return to work if they produce a negative test.
Previously, players who fit under this category had to produce two negative tests 24 hours apart. This means teams such as the Browns, Rams and Washington could get players back for their games this weekend.
Unvaccinated players must continue to isolate for 10 days.