The Washington Football Team placed tight end Logan Thomas on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, making him the first player from the club with that designation.
Being placed on the list means Thomas, 29, either has coronavirus or was exposed to someone who has it. NFL veterans underwent tests for the disease Tuesday and will take a second one 72 hours after their first. Players must pass consecutive coronavirus tests before gaining access to the team’s facility.
If Thomas has coronavirus and has symptoms, at least 10 days must pass since the symptoms first occurred and at least 72 hours have passed since symptoms last occurred, according to NFL’s protocols reported by NBC’s Peter King. He also must test negative for the virus and have his returned approved by a team doctor.
If Thomas is positive and asymptomatic, he must go at least five days and have two negative tests for him to return to the field — or 10 days must pass since his first positive test.
It isn’t immediately clear what the protocol is for returning players who have been exposed to the virus, but don’t actually have it.
Washington signed Thomas, a former Virginia Tech quarterback turned tight end, this offseason. Tight end is one of Washington’s thinnest positions after Vernon Davis retired and the team released veteran Jordan Reed earlier this year. Thomas spent last season with the Detroit Lions, hauling in 16 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown in 16 games.
If Thomas has the coronavirus, he won’t be the first Washington player to have it. Rookie wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden tested positive for the virus in the spring, but has since recovered.
Around the NFL, more than 25 players have opted out of the upcoming season due to coronavirus concerns, including Washington’s Caleb Brantley.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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