The last thing anyone wants is to start controversy, but some topics inherently create it. Unfortunately, we’re about to talk about one involving the Indianapolis Colts.
Heading into the summer, Indy has one of the lowest player-vaccination rates in the NFL. We really do not have to get into whether you prefer to take the COVID-19 vaccine or not. Do your research, make sure you inform yourself as best as possible, and make an educated decision. We’ll leave it at that.
But there are still guidelines and precautions people must abide by if they come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or they test positive themselves. And that’s the way it’s going to be for the foreseeable future.
It’ll be no different for NFL players, either, which is why fans may have a reason to be concerned about the Colts’ low rate.
The Colts have also been done with offseason workouts for over two weeks, so we aren’t positioned to speak to individual players about this right now. So details/context are hard to come by.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 15, 2021
The Colts are among the lowest-vaccinated rosters in the NFL.
Due to the rapid and vicious spread of COVID-19 that claimed the lives of millions and left hundreds of thousands with health complications, we’re now at a point where medical professionals are urging people to get vaccinated so we can move forward and restore normalcy.
Not every single person on the planet will need to get the vaccine to help us reach herd immunity, but a majority is certainly required. While we don’t know the Colts’ exact number, they’re below the 50% mark, which leaves them prone to risk.
A single COVID-19 diagnosis to an impact player can set the team back weeks. That’s the lens fans must view this through. Nobody’s faulting the players for not getting vaccinated, but it’s now a reality that the roster has a greater likelihood of getting infected, which could adversely impact the season.
To be clear, this is not and has never been the issue. Of course players have a choice. The reason fans (rightfully) care is because this is a potential competitive disadvantage bc of add’l Covid restrictions and bc of possible infections. Pretty simple. https://t.co/ewKBvS8it5
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 15, 2021
There will be risks for fans, too. The NFL is allowing full capacity stadiums for the 2021 season. That create a whole new environment for the spread of the virus depending upon how much of the crowd is vaccinated … but there’s no competitive disadvantage with a sick fanbase.
There aren’t required vaccination rates for teams. There are rates in place to ensure certain restrictions, like mask-wearing, can be lifted, as well as rates to determine if a team is adequately protected against the virus.
The Colts aren’t there yet. They could get there. But as of now, they’re heading into 2021 behind the eight-ball and could suffer at some point because of it.
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