On Thursday, Bill Belichick confirmed Cam Newton will return after missing five days as part of COVID-19 protocols.
“On Saturday, Cam Newton traveled to a Club-approved medical appointment that required him to leave the New England area," the team said in a statement Monday. "He received daily Covid tests, which were all negative. Due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities, and as required by the NFL-NFLPA protocols, Cam will be subject to the five-day entry cadence process before returning to the facility. Cam will continue participating virtually in team activities and return to the club facility on Thursday, August 26.”
With that being said, Belichick was pressed on the matter by Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe. The coach didn't say much besides that Newton didn't violate team rules.
"I don't really have anything to add," Belichick said. "We released a statement. I think that covered it as thoroughly as we can without getting into a lengthy thing. We'll just leave it at that."
He added when pressed further: "No, he didn't go against team rules. But, there was a misunderstanding and it was exactly what I said it was in the statement. ... It's exactly what I said it was in the statement."
The Patriots will have the second of two joint practices with the Giants Thursday.
