As if the organization hadn’t been dealing with enough already, Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule opened his presser on Monday afternoon with some unfortunate news.
“We’ve had a few positive tests this morning for COVID,” Rhule said off the top to reporters. “So to stop the spread of an outbreak—[Brandon] Zylstra yesterday, and Saturday and a couple today—we sent everybody home.”
Rhule went on to state that the team will proceed by conducting virtual meetings in hopes of a return on Wednesday. When asked of the total amount of positive tests, he then described the results as “somewhat significant.”
Turns out, “somewhat significant” means six, with almost all of which coming on the defensive side. Shortly after, the Panthers officially announced the placement of the following players on the reserve/COVID-19 list:
DE Brian Burns
LB Shaq Thompson
DE Marquis Haynes Sr.
DT Phil Hoskins
DE Daviyon Nixon
C Matt Paradis
Nixon and Paradis both have already had their seasons ended with a pair of knee injuries. As for Burns, Thompson, Haynes and Hoskins—if they are indeed vaccinated and asymptomatic—can return upon two negative tests with 24 hours in between. If they are not vaccinated, they will have to remain out for 10 days.
This now brings the total number of Panthers on the reserve/COVID-19 list to 13.
