The Washington Football Team’s troubles with the virus continued Tuesday as cornerback Kendall Fuller and defensive tackle Tim Settle were placed on the league’s COVID-19 reserve list.
The placement means Washington now has 10 players on the reserve list, all of whom have been placed on it since last week. Other names on the list include: Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, defensive ends Montez Sweat, James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill and William Bradley-King, linebackers Khaleke Hudson and David Mayo and tight end Temmarick Hemingway.
In total, 11 Washington players have been added to the list in the last week, but the team activated cornerback Darryl Roberts from it on Tuesday.
The NFL has seen a rapid increase in positive tests over the last two days. Another 28 players tested positive Tuesday after 37 did Monday. The outbreak caused the NFL to adjust its protocols, with players, coaches and executives now required to get a booster shot by Dec. 27.
League-wide, big names such as the Rams’ Odell Beckham Jr. and Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey were added to the reserve list.
Vaccinated players who test positive can return as soon as they can pass two consecutive tests within 24 hours apart and receive medical clearance. Unvaccinated players who test positive must miss at least 10 days, according to NFL protocols.
For Washington, positive tests and injuries have left the Burgundy and Gold’s defense incredibly thin ahead of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
With Fuller out, the team’s No. 1 cornerback out, the team is left with the following at the position: Roberts, William Jackson III, Danny Johnson, Troy Apke and Corn Elder. Of those five, Roberts, Apke and Elder have yet to take a defensive snap this season.
Washington is also depleted along the defensive line with only six players on the active roster — Shaka Toney, Daniel Wise, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Bunmi Rotimi and Nate Orchard. The team signed Orchard off the Packers’ practice squad Tuesday. The team also has defensive linemen Hercules Mata’afa, David Bada and Gabe Wright on the practice squad.
Washington and Philadelphia are set to face off Sunday in a game that figures to be pivotal in the playoff race. They are two of five NFC teams who hold a 6-7 record and are vying for a wild card spot.
Washington currently holds the seventh seed because of tiebreakers but would be passed if Philadelphia wins.
It’s unclear if Washington will have any more positive tests before Sunday’s game. The team has added at least one player to the list per day since Friday.
The team also had a non-football staff member test positive for the omicron variant Monday — believed to be the NFL’s first omicron case.
For more information, visit The Washington Times COVID-19 resource page.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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