BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo Bills tight end Tommy Sweeney will miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with an inflamed heart, which is considered a COVID-19 aftereffect.
Coach Sean McDermott provided the update on Monday as the Bills (7-3) returned from their bye week to prepare to host the Los Angeles Chargers (3-7) this weekend. McDermott said a team doctor discovered Sweeney had myocarditis during an examination to determine whether he could resume practicing.
The second-year player has been sidelined by a foot injury since the team opened training camp in July, and began the season on the physically unable to perform list. Sweeney was then placed on the team’s reserve-COVID-19 list on Oct. 24.
McDermott was unable to provide any timetable on Sweeney’s recovery.
The Myocarditis Foundation in August reported that while myocarditis is a rare cardiovascular disease, it has been reported in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. It is a condition caused by the body’s immune system’s response to infection and can lead to shortness of breath, chest pain and heart palpitations.
The foundation recommends athletes abstain from participating in competitive sports for a minimum of three months before being re-examined.
Sweeney was selected in the seventh round of the 2019 draft out of Boston College. He finished with eight catches for 114 yards in six games last season.
McDermott said cornerback Josh Norman remains on the team’s COVID-19 list a little over a week after testing positive.
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