Vikings rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson was among four players placed on the COVID-19 reserve list by the team on Monday afternoon joining tackle Blake Brandel, Brian Cole, and Tyler Higby.
The list is for players that have either tested positive for the virus or have come in contact with someone who has had the virus, although according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, NFL teams are not required to specify what category each player falls under.
The lack of a specific designation makes a potential timetable for Jefferson’s return murky. The NFL sent out training camp guidelines for both scenarios at the beginning of July, with close contact resulting in increased symptom monitoring and a positive test requiring 10 days away from the date of the positive test if the individual is asymptomatic.
The NFL last night sent to clubs COVID-19 protocols for 2020 training camp and preseason, including this detailed breakdown for handling individuals exposed to someone who tested positive: pic.twitter.com/bX7aQzMZTZ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 4, 2020
The news comes just hours after the team announced that head athletic trainer and infection control officer Eric Sugarman tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.
The news of Jefferson being placed on the list is massive, however, as the Vikings are counting on him to ease the blow of trading Stefon Diggs over the offseason. Minnesota used that pick acquired in the trade, to take Jefferson at 22nd overall with a big role in mind.
Although Jefferson is a favorite to earn the starting receiver spot across from Adam Thielen at the beginning of the year, the lack of OTAs could make for a steep learning curve when Jefferson gets off the list.
