ASHBURN — Washington special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor was placed on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list after not being at practice Tuesday.
Kaczor was placed in the protocols despite being fully vaccinated.
The team offered few details on Kaczor, but there have been instances across the NFL of “breakthrough” COVID-19 infections — cases where vaccinated coaches or players have tested positive, despite having had the shots.
“It’s one of those things that he is fully vaccinated, but we have to follow the rules,” coach Ron Rivera said.
Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel tested positive for the virus Sunday and is in the league’s COVID-19 protocol process, while Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was also placed on the reserve list.
In the NFL, coaches, executives and other personnel were mandated to get the vaccine to be around players. If a person refused, they could opt out of the season or be assigned elsewhere. The Minnesota Vikings did the latter with former offensive line coach Rick Dennison, naming him an offensive senior advisor for 2021. Dennison will still work with the Vikings, but do so in a role that will keep him away from players.
Dennison, 63, did not give a reason why he refused the vaccine. Many players have said the decision comes down to “personal choice,” though have largely avoided explaining why. Some like Buffalo’s Cole Beasley have said there’s not enough information available to take the vaccine. “Every doctor I go to with questions begins every sentence with ‘what we know now,’ which tells me we don’t know enough,” Beasley said in a press conference.
Beasley was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list Tuesday, out at least five days after being deemed a close contact to a Bills trainer who tested positive.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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