The Detroit Lions placed a second player on the reserve COVID-19 list on Day 1 of training camp Wednesday, but head coach Dan Campbell said the team is trending “the right way” with its vaccination rate.
More than 80% of Lions players have received at least one shot, Campbell said.
“I would say we’re getting more as we go every day,” Campbell said. “Every day that we had our guys come in, from the first group into the last group that came in yesterday, every day we get a few more. So it’s trending the right way. It’s been really good.”
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The Lions placed linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin on COVID IR before practice Wednesday. He joins undrafted rookie offensive lineman Evan Heim on the COVID list.
The NFL notified teams earlier this month that it does not plan on moving games due to COVID cases among unvaccinated players this fall.
NFL Network reported Tuesday that 85% of players have received at least one shot, and 14 of the league’s 32 teams are over 90% vaccinated.
Unvaccinated players must wear masks and are subject to social distancing restrictions similar to the rules all teams operated under last year.
For players and staff members who test positive for COVID-19, the NFL has two sets of rules currently in place. Vaccinated players who test positive and are asymptomatic can return to practice after two negative tests 24 hours apart. Nonvaccinated players must isolate for 10 days following a positive test.
“The players have been great,” Campbell said. “We all know what’s going on with the rules and as it pertains to vaccinations and they’ve been outstanding; the players, and then us the staff working with them. So we’re ready and we’re ready for practice, we’re ready to move on. So we’re good, man. We’re ready for Day 1. This is about to be real fun.”
The Lions also placed center Evan Brown on the nonfootball injury list Wednesday.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.