The New York Giants aren’t quite out of the woods yet, but they can breathe a temporary sigh of relief as they experienced no new positive tests on Friday morning, one day after placing guard Will Hernandez on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
The team had asked that all but four offensive linemen self-isolate following Hernandez’s positive test and later sent home two assistant coaches, Bret Bielema and Jerome Henderson.
None of the nine players or coaches were deemed “high risk” and all have checked out clean, for now.
BREAKING: With the exception of Will Hernandez, all nine of the Giants’ close contact players and coaches who were isolated/quarantined yesterday tested negative on Thursday and are expected back in the Giants’ facility and at practice today, per sources. A relief. #Giants
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) October 30, 2020
In addition to Bielema and Henderson, offensive linemen Andrew Thomas, Nick Gates, Cam Fleming, Shane Lemieux and Spencer Pulley were absent on Thursday and believed to have been sent home. Each appeared on the team’s injury report.
Offensive lineman Chad Slade and wide receiver Binjimen Victor were also presumably sent home, but did not appear on the injury report because they are practice squad players.
All nine players and coaches who were told to stay home on Thursday will be closely monitored and further tested under the NFL and NFLPA coronavirus protocols, but allowed to return to team facilities.
All of the Giants’ close contacts under Covid protocols who remained home yesterday will be back with the team today.
The team will hold its meetings remotely and will practice at MetLife Stadium due to wet grounds at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 30, 2020
A Monday Night Football game between the Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers remains on schedule.
