The Bears will put center Cody Whitehair on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list Friday after his initial positive coronavirus test was confirmed overnight. The team had no new positive tests and discovered no close contacts for Whitehair, coach Matt Nagy said.
Whitehair tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday but the Bears sent another sample to the NFL’s laboratory overnight looking for confirmation. Whitehair, who is nursing a calf injury, did not practice with the Bears on Wednesday but was in attendance, talking to teammates.
Friday, safety Tashaun Gipson said Whitehair wearing a mask earlier in the week, when he was sick but didn’t know it, probably prevented an outbreak.
“Cody made sure he had on the mask,” Gipson said. “I don’t think he knew he had it, but he’s a pro’s pro.”
The Bears sent everyone home from Halas Hall on Thursday morning after Whitehair tested positive, conducting meetings from home. On Thursday night — after Halas Hall was deep-cleaned — the Bears were cleared by the NFL to return to practice Friday. The team will remain under the NFL’s intensive protocol, which requires, among other things, a daily on-site negative test for admission and strict social distancing rules once inside.
Whitehair was the second Bears player to test positive this week. Fellow offensive lineman Jason Spriggs tested positive Tuesday. Right guard Gemain Ifedi was ruled to be a high-risk close contract and entered quarantine. He can be put back on the active roster Saturday, provided he doesn’t test positive, and play in Sunday’s game.
The Bears’ roster, though, will look different.
“We told the younger guys, some of the practice squad guys, we’ve been telling them all year long, this is one of those years you better be ready, you better know your plays and you better be ready to step up,” Nagy said. “Because you’re going to get an opportunity because you’re seeing that right now. You’re seeing it across the league. And it’s time for us to be able to stay prepared — and you’re going to see that too with coaches. That’s just where we’re at.”
