The Minnesota Vikings placed Anthony Barr on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday, marking the third defensive starter to be impacted by the virus since veterans reported to training camp on Tuesday.
Barr recorded 79 tackles for the Vikings last season with 1.5 sacks, but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet, playing multiple roles for Mike Zimmer’s defense.
With Barr on the shelf, it’s the latest Viking defender to feel some sort of impact from the virus. On Wednesday, defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and defensive tackle Michael Pierce opted out of the 2020 season after signing with the team back in March.
Overall, it’s the eighth Vikings player to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list which also includes first-round pick Justin Jefferson and the team announced that head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman tested positive for the virus on Monday.
Teams are not required to disclose the reason for being placed on the list, but is for players that either test positive for COVID-19 or has come in contact with someone who has. It’s also unclear whether any of the players have symptoms, which would require at least a 10 day quarantine period before returning to the field.
