UNDATED (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol and will miss Sunday’s game at Kansas City.
Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday that Rodgers is in the protocol but would not say if he had tested positive. LaFleur said 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love is the starter against the Chiefs. Love has thrown just seven NFL passes.
The reigning NFL MVP is the latest Green Bay player to deal with the coronavirus. Wide receivers Davante Adams, a 2020 All-Pro, and Allen Lazard missed last week’s victory at Arizona because of COVID-19 protocols.
With Rodgers out and third-stringer Kurt Benkert on the COVID-19 list, the Packers have signed QB Blake Bortles to the practice squad.
In other NFL news:
— Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was excused from practice a day after his father caused a stir by sharing a video of quarterback Baker Mayfield not throwing passes to his wide-open son. Beckham may be down to his final hours with the Browns, who met with the star’s representatives to work out a resolution. The team is now deciding whether to cut ties with the polarizing wide receiver or see if he and Mayfield can move forward together.
— Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was limited during Wednesday’s practice because of a right hand injury suffered late in last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. Herbert banged his throwing hand on the helmet of a Patriots player during the final drive, which ended with his scoring pass to Joshua Palmer.
— Dolphins general manager Chris Grier says Miami considered making a trade with Houston for quarterback Deshaun Watson before Tuesday’s deadline. Greier added that he did not ask Watson’s accusers to sign nondisclosure agreements in the hopes of resolving the sexual assault and misconduct cases against the embattled quarterback. Watson has not been charged with a crime and has denied all wrongdoing.
— Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Sam Darnold showed up for practice Wednesday in full pads. However, their status for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots remains very much up in the air. McCaffrey was designated for return from injured reserve and the team has 21 days to decide whether to activate him on the 53-man roster. Darnold remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
— Saints receiver Michael Thomas says he won’t play this season because of complications related to offseason ankle surgery. Saints coach Sean Payton says Thomas will need an additional procedure and the setback has nothing to do with the receiver’s work ethic or approach to his recovery.
— Giants injured star running back Saquon Barkley and two other starters did not practice Wednesday after being placed in the COVID-19 protocol along with assistant coach Burton Burns. Safety Xavier McKinney and left guard Matt Skura also did not practice because of the virus.
— Prosecutors in Las Vegas say former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was speeding at 156 mph with a blood-alcohol content twice Nevada’s legal limit before his sports car slammed into another vehicle, killing a 23-year-old woman. Ruggs made his initial court appearance Wednesday on felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving. The team released Ruggs just hours after the fiery crash.
— Versatile Colts running back Tom Matte has died at 82. Matte spent his entire 12 years in the NFL with the Colts. During the 1965 season, in a memorable three-game stint, he filled in at quarterback. After scoring three touchdowns to carry Baltimore past Cleveland in the 1968 NFL title game, Matte became the first player to top 100 yards rushing in a Super Bowl, totaling 116 in a huge upset loss to Joe Namath and the New York Jets.
