(SportsRadio 610) - Nine Texans players are on the COVID-19 reserve list as the virus continues to take its toll on sports.
Linebackers Kamu Grugier-Hill, Christian Kirksey, safeties A.J. Moore and Terrence Brooks, defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker, offensive lineman Justin McCray and cornerback Terrance Mitchell are among players on the COVID-19 list. Practice squad players Jaylen Samuels and Cre'von LeBlanc are also on the list.
The NFL announced Thursday an update to COVID-19 protocols. The league said it is to "address the increase in cases and the advent of the Omicron variant."
Around 100 players tested positive for COVID-19 over a three-day span, according to NFL Network's Judy Battista.
"Effective immediately, all clubs will implement preventative measures that have proven effective: masking regardless of vaccination status, remote or outdoor meetings, eliminating in-person meals, and no outside visitors while on team travel," the league said in a statement. "We will continue to strongly encourage the booster shots as the most effective protection. Finally, and based on expert advice, we will adjust the return-to-participation requirements for those who have recovered from COVID-19.
"All of these changes are grounded in our data and science-backed approach, with safety our number-one goal for the entire NFL community."
The Texans are just getting back David Johnson after he tested positive leading up to last Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. It cost them once Rex Burkhead went down with a hip injury and Royce Freeman, who was claimed off waivers last month, was the only available running back.
Related
This time, COVID-19 would impact their defense heavily, with two starting linebackers, a starting cornerback, rotation defensive lineman and reserve safety possibly out.
With the league's new protocols, there are no in-person media availabilities for the rest of the week. All interviews, including Sunday's postgame, will be conducted virtually.
"The changes we’ve made (are) the changes that the NFL requires us to make," Texans head coach David Culley said when asked about it Wednesday. "Usually all those changes come down from the league office, and once the league office gives us those changes, then we go by those changes. There’s really not anything else we can do. I think our people here, our staff do a great job of everything that we need to do to prevent this thing from happening. All of our guys are vaccinated and it’s still happening. It’s happening across the league.
"Obviously, this past week and these past couple of days, there’s been a little bit more outbreak."