What do new COVID protocols mean for Carson Wentz and the Colts?
The NFL recently implemented new COVID protocols and it can have a huge impact on the Indianapolis Colts.
Following the Indianapolis Colts Week 15 victory over the New England Patriots, Indy was on top of the world. The team beat a rival opponent, who was atop the conference, and cleared a path to the playoffs.
Since that moment, things have got turbulent for the Colts. They haven’t lost any games but they are the latest team to be affected by the ongoing pandemic.
So far in the month of December, Indianapolis has placed 15 players on the COVID list, including stars like Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson, and Carson Wentz. With the mounting numbers, it appeared as if the Colts would have to play their Week 17 game with a decimated roster and risk their shot at the playoffs.
Thanks to updated COVID protocols by the NFL, introduced on Tuesday, that may not be the case after all. With the new structure, Indianapolis has a chance at getting all of its players back in time for the game on Sunday.
From @GMFB: The NFL and NFLPA agreed on new COVID-19 protocols, changing the isolation time in accordance with the CDC. That could have a dramatic impact on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/CEDaxDDYxM
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2021
Colts and Carson Wentz can benefit from new COVID protocols
Following the lead of the CDC, the NFL has reduced the mandatory quarantine period from 10 days to five, regardless of vaccination status, as long as the person is asymptomatic.
For the Colts, this means all the players who tested positive on Monday, December 27, or before, will be eligible to return for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Under the previous protocols, unvaccinated players had to remain away from the facilities for 10 days. If the NFL didn’t adopt the new policies, Darius Leonard would have had to miss a second game this week, and Carson Wentz, too, would have been out.
Leonard who tested positive before the Week 16 game against the Cardinals, can soon be activated, along with other players whose five days have passed or will be approaching.
Colts activated G Mark Glowinski, G Quenton Nelson, DE Kemoko Turay, CB Rock Ya-Sin and TE Farrod Green (practice squad) from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2021
Wentz will be eligible for activation on Saturday, the day before the game. It’s not a certainty that Wentz will be activated because he still has to be asymptomatic and feel well enough to play. Everyone is affected by the virus differently so it’s just a matter of observing how the situation plays out.
The updated protocols, however, do give Wentz a path to return to play on Sunday, something that wasn’t there when Wentz was initially placed on the COVID list. If he is ready to go, that means good things for Wentz’s health and the Colts’ hopes of clinching a playoff spot.
