The Patriots have their first player to test positive for COVID-19 in 2021.
According to Jim McBride of The Boston Globe, second-year tight end Devin Asiasi has tested positive for the virus. Since he is fully vaccinated, he can return when he produces two consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart.
“The setup on camp operationally is more like it was in 2019," Bill Belichick said earlier on Tuesday. “We’re still, of course, following all of the league protocols and policies on health and safety and so forth. There are certain requirements on vaccinated vs. unvaccinated players and different tiers and so forth and access to the people in the organization and fans and so forth and so on. Whatever those are, they are. We’ll follow those. Our staff and organization has done a great job of making those accommodations. I’m not really going to get into any of that. Whatever they are, they are, and we’ll comply with them according to the policies as we’re directed."
Asiasi had a solid spring and seemed to be in a good position to be the third tight end behind Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
In addition, McBride reports the team is releasing wide receiver Devin Smith.