One of the most outspoken unvaccinated players remaining in the National Football League has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that veteran wide receiver Cole Beasley has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The NFL's COVID-19 rules state that Beasley must isolate for 10 days because he isn't vaccinated. That means he will miss Buffalo's matchup with the New England Patriots this Sunday.
In a post on Instagram, Beasley said he is feeling fine with mild symptoms.
Tyrel Dodson, Dion Dawkins, Jon Feliciano and A.J. Epenesa are all also on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Feliciano, on his Twitter account, said that he was hospitalized and recieved monoclonal antibodies because of his symptoms.
The 32-year-old lands on the Reserve/COVID-19 list for a second time in the 2021 season after being placed on the list back in August. However, he was, then, deemed as a close contact to a team trainer who had tested positive for COVID-19.
After being openly vocal about his views on COVID-19 vaccines over the offseason on social media, Beasley opened Bills training camp in July with a prepared statement regarding the vaccine while addressing the media.
"I want to start this off by saying, I'm not anti- or pro-vax, I'm pro-choice," Beasley said. "With that being said, the issue at hand is that information is being withheld from players in order for a player to be swayed in a direction he may not be comfortable with."
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Beasley has played in all 14 games this season, reeling in 76 catches on 101 targets for 640 yards and one touchdown. Last season, Beasley set career-high numbers in receptions (82), receiving yards (967 yards) and average yards per-catch (9.0).
Depending on how long Beasley remains on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the next game he will be eligible to return for is Buffalo's Week 17 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Jan. 2 at Highmark Stadium.
