COVID-19 cases are picking up across the country and the NFL has not been spared.
Over the last three days, 85 players have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Currently, three Patriots players are on the list -- J.J. Taylor, Yasir Durant and Dalton Keene.
“I think for us as a team, we’ve been pretty safe with it so far, of how we’ve kind of handled ourselves,” Devin McCourty said Tuesday. “I think coming off a bye week and this time of the year with the holidays, all those different things playing factors. We just try to tell everybody to think about the team, whatever you do. Whatever decision you make, try to think about how it will impact the team and go from there.”
He added: “Numbers are up everywhere. I always say we can’t think because we play in the NFL and we want to be healthy that we’re just going to shield ourselves and not get COVID. You try to tell guys (to) be smart and do different things, but it’s the realization of, like, numbers are climbing. Let’s try to stay inside as much as we can and different things like that.”
Speaking Wednesday, Matthew Judon, who wore a mask while at the podium, urged people to limit time in public settings and wear masks when needed.
“All we can say as leaders or anybody is just protect yourself,” he said. “If you’re going outside, please wear a mask. Try not to spend time in places where you really don’t have to when you can be at home.
“As we all know from last year, it’s a very tough time just staying at home, so just protect yourself as much as you can, and when you don’t have to be somewhere, please go home. And if you have to be somewhere, just please wear a mask, wear it correctly and try to wash your hands as much as possible.”
Mac Jones said it's been a focus of the team not just recently, but all year.
"I think we do everything we can to stay healthy and try and follow all the protocols, so that’s all you can ask," he said. "What’s going on around, we just try to focus on the upcoming game and, like I said, staying healthy, whether that’s wearing your mask or whatever and keeping our distance. We’ve done that all year. That’s all we can do."
The Patriots will travel to Indianapolis Saturday night to take on the Colts.
Thanks to MacFarlane Energy, your Mitsubishi Diamond Elite contractor, where they can very affordably heat your three-season room with a Mitsubishi ductless hyper heat unit. Please visit MacFarlaneEnergy.com.