As we get closer to the 2021 NFL regular season, the debate over whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine is heating up among players and coaches. Just over the past week, we’ve seen a coach in Minnesota leave after refusing vaccination, while Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins openly contemplated retirement.
However, of the 89 players currently on the Atlanta Falcons roster, only seven have yet to get vaccinated, as reported by The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz on Friday afternoon.
7 out of 89 players on the Falcons’ roster have not been vaccinated, a source told @TheAthletic
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) July 23, 2021
The Falcons are one of only nine teams with a vaccination rate of 90 percent or higher. This is a major positive going into the season, especially considering the NFL has become increasingly strict on COVID guidelines.
While being vaccinated doesn’t eliminate the chance to contract the virus entirely, it does reduce the spread and limit its effects. The NFL sent out a league wide memo earlier this week stating that the league won’t reschedule games if an outbreak occurs within a team filled with unvaccinated players. This will result in a forfeit for that team.
Additionally, the NFL has stated that teams who fail to meet the 85 percent vaccination threshold will still have to adhere to strict COVID policies. This includes daily testing, limited in-person meetings and masks.
