Packers RB A.J. Dillon tests positive, goes on COVID reserve list
Packers confirm first positive coronavirus test since Training Camp
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - The Green Bay Packers conducted virtual meetings Monday following a player testing positive for COVID-19.
The team confirmed the positive result Monday morning in a statement.
“The Packers were informed today that a player has tested positive for COVID-19. Our organization has entered the NFL’s intensive protocol and the player has self-quarantined. We will continue to work with the league on contact tracing as we follow the guidelines of intensive protocol. All player meeting will be conducted virtually today,” the statement said.
The team added, “Our focus continues to be on the health and safety of our players, staff and community. We will continue to work closely with the NFL and medical professional and follow their guidance."
Separately, the team announced RB A.J. DIllon was going on COVID Reserve.
The Packers made the announcements separately as they are not allowed to specifically address the medical conditions of players as it pertains to COVID-19.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports there is “potential competitive implications" on the upcoming Thursday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
But Packers coach Matt LaFleur seems confident the game will go on as scheduled.
“All indications point towards us playing on Thursday night and I think the league has confidence that we have been handling things the right way in our building and so that’s a credit to the guys in this building as well as the people that set the standard for us,” LaFleur said.
“The one thing about our meeting rooms is our guys have done a pretty good job of making sure we are not within that six feet radius of one another and that we are spaced out. So we will see what the reports say when they all get done doing all the research the league has to do, But we feel confident that we could have handled everything as well as we could of.”
The Packers are entering the NFL’s ‘Intensive Protocol’ which still allows practices and walk throughs, but with the caveat that all players and coaches must wear masks (not gaiters) or Oakley Faceshields.
“That’s exactly what we are going to do,” LaFleur said “We are going to come in tomorrow, have our morning meetings, have a walk through right before lunch, break for lunch, come back for more meetings and then have a 2nd walk through. Then we will come back on Wednesday, have a meeting in the morning, another install, have a quick practice, then we will be off to Santa Clara. It was honestly what we were planning on doing regardless of our situation. That’s typically what you do on a short week."
“You got to have a plan for everything so it’s something we’re constantly working through and trying to figure out how we can put out best guys out on the field and go attack.”
Dillon played 17 snaps on Sunday in the Packers 26-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Due to the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, A.J. Dillon is likely out for Thursday game, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Starting back in Week 6, all NFL players have been tested on Sunday mornings before playing, with those test results coming back late on Sunday nights or early on Monday mornings. Dillon, therefore, played in Sunday’s game after taking the test that eventually came back positive.
This is the Packers first positive coronavirus test result since the start of training camp.
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