Two Dolphins Defensive Starters Land on COVID-19 List

The Miami Dolphins could be without defensive starters Christian Wilkins and Kyle Van Noy against the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend after both were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

In a best-case scenario under the Reserve/COVID-19 rules, Wilkins and Van Noy would have to isolate for at least five days from the time they came in close contact with the positive person and the contact occurred early in the week.

That would mean the five-day quarantine would allow them to come back in time for the Chargers game.

Under a memo sent to teams in late October, "If a player's last contact with a COVID-19 positive individual occurs on Monday, he may not enter the club facility and must return consecutive negative PCR test results from all specimens collected through Saturday morning. If that occurs, the player may be activated on Saturday prior to the 4:00 p.m. New York time transaction deadline and will be eligible to full participate in all activities on Sunday, including playing in a game."

The NFL sent this memo to clubs Friday laying out procedures for “high risk” close contacts. With no positive test results this morning from Friday’s testing, the #Raiders can activate four starting offensive linemen by 4 p.m. today. Final all-clear comes Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/ivDJ4VdyRS
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 24, 2020

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported late Thursday afternoon that Wilkins and Van Noy both will miss the game against the Chargers.

From TNF Pregame: The #Dolphins won't have two key pieces on defense, as COVID-19 hits again in Miami. pic.twitter.com/BpaVvRT4MG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 12, 2020

Losing either or both would be a blow for the Dolphins defense, which will be facing rookie quarterback Justin Herbert on Sunday.

Along with Wilkins and Van Noy, the Dolphins also placed practice squad wide receiver Matt Cole on Reserve/COVID-19, though they did take rookie wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. off the list.

Bowden missed the game against the Arizona Cardinals after being placed on COVID-19 last Friday.

Wilkins and Van Noy were among the three players on the active roster who missed practice Thursday, along with rookie defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, whose absence on the official injury report was listed as "not injury related."

The rest of the injury report was the same as it was Wednesday, with RB Matt Breida (hamstring), CB Jamal Perry (foot) and TE Durham Smythe (concussion) all listed as limited participants.

The Dolphins conducted a regular practice after having a walk-through Wednesday.

The Reserve/COVID-19 list was created this year for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons.

If a player falls into either of these categories, their club is required to immediately place the player on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Per agreed upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether a player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.

Add us as a preferred source on Google