Saturday, the Detroit Lions reported that star quarterback, former Georgia football star Matthew Stafford tested positive for the coronavirus.
However, in a revised report from the Lions on Tuesday, the organization stated that Stafford’s test was a ‘false positive’ and that he was removed from the NFL’s new ‘reserve/ COVID-19 list’.
The Lions had placed Stafford on the NFL’s new ‘reserve/ COVID-19 list’, making him the first starting quarterback to be placed on the list that was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons.
If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs also may not disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.
In Tuesday’s statement, the Lions ensured that Stafford does not have the virus and that he has received multiple negative tests on top of the original ‘false positive’ test.
Today we removed Matthew Stafford from the COVID-IR list and onto the Active Roster. As a result of a False-Positive test result, he was forced due to NFL/NFLPA protocols to sit out until he received two negative tests. His testing sequence for the Pre-Entry period was: negative, negative, False-Positive. The next three tests were all negative. To be clear, Matthew does NOT have COVID-19 and never has had COVID-19 and the test in question was a False-Positive. Also, all of Matthew’s family have been tested and everyone is negative.
In a statement posted on her Instagram account, Kelly Stafford expanded on how her family has dealt with the past week saying it was somewhat of a nightmare situation while blaming the NFL for the ‘false positive’ test.
Kelly concluded her post by saying their family is “absolutely fine and feeling great.”
“We are thankful for all those who called, texted, emailed and showed concern for Matthew and our family.”
