Chicago Bears On NFL's 'Enhanced' COVID-19 Protocol List: Report

Chicago IL

15 December, 2021

3:20 PM

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CHICAGO — With one Chicago professional sports franchise experiencing its own COVID-19 issues, the city's NFL team may be having virus-related concerns as well. The Bears are one of seven NFL teams to be considered in "enhanced" COVID-19 protocols, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The Bears have added four players to the reserve/COVID-19 list since Monday. ESPN reported that the Bears are on the league's enhanced list along with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Washington Football Team and Los Angeles Rams. The Bears are to host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night at Soldier Field. NFL now has seven teams in enhanced COVID protocols: Browns, Bears, Falcons, Lions, Rams, Vikings and the WFT.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2021 "I think everybody is doing the best they can do," Bears linebacker Alec Ogletree told reporters on Wednesday. "Trying to make sure everybody is safe and prepared, and understanding why we have to do certain things in a certain way. And that's just to try to protect us, protect the people that work here, not just the players but you've got staff, a bunch of people that work here, come here every day to earn their check. "So, you know as far as the protocols go we all have to abide by rules and do what we need to do to try and keep this as safe as possible and not have a big outbreak and spread, just try to protect one another." The Bears have added Eddie Goldman, Artie Burns, Mario Edwards, Elijah Wilkinson, Larry Borom and Sam Kamara to the COVID-19 list since Monday. Borom, the team's starting left tackle, became the latest player to be added to the list on Wednesday, according to the team's daily injury report. The Bears' health issues come at a time when the Chicago Bulls have 10 players on the NBA's health and safety protocol list and have had two games postponed, including Thursday night's scheduled game in Toronto. The reserve/COVID-19 designation is for any player who tests positive for COVID-19 and for unvaccinated players who are high-risk close contacts of those who test positive. The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday that Goldman, Wilkinson and Edwards are believed to be unvaccinated. ESPN reported Wednesday that 75 players across the league have tested positive for COVID-19 since Monday, and the NFL Players Association is pushing for teams to be required to test players on a daily basis. "The NFL decided to take away a critical weapon in our fight against the transmission of COVID-19 despite our union's call for daily testing months ago," the union said in a statement, according to ESPN. "We're talking to our player leadership and to the NFL about potential changes to the protocols so that we can complete the season." Under regulations for teams on the "enhanced" list, Bears players and personnel must wear masks at Halas Hall and be tested daily for COVID-19 regardless of their vaccination status. This is the second time the Bears have been added to the NFL enhanced list after coach Matt Nagy tested positive for COVID-19 and four players were added to the reserve list.