Aaron Rodgers tests positive for COVID-19, out of Sunday's game against Chiefs: Reports

GREEN BAY — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Network first reported.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero cited sources. Head Coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday that Rodgers is on protocol but would not comment on Rodgers' vaccination status.

The Packers said in a statement that Rodgers and Isaac Yiadom are on the COVID-19/reserve list, but did not mention vaccine status per NFL-NFLPA policy. The team also signed DL Auzoyah Alufohai and RB Ryquell Armstead to the practice squad.

The NFL says they are now launching an investigation into the Green Bay Packers. The league says they are aware of the current situation and will be reviewing it with the team.

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Meanwhile NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Rodgers is not vaccinated, and that is the reason why he is reportedly missing the game on Sunday. ESPN reportedthe NFL has considered Rodgers as unvaccinated since the start of the season, citing sources.

QB Jordan Love will start against the Chiefs. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported quarterback Blake Bortles is traveling to Green Bay to sign with the Packers practice squad. He would then be eligible for the Packers roster on Sunday, Schefter says, citing a source. Bortles was on the Packers roster this summer before Rodgers returned.

Jeffrey Phelps/AP

Rodgers said he was "immunized" during a Aug. 26, 2021 media briefing.

"Yeah, I’ve been immunized," Rodgers said. "You know, there’s a lot of conversation about it around the league and a lot of guys who have made statements and not made statements. Owners who have made statements. You know, there’s guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys. There’s guys that have been vaccinated that have contracted COVID, so it’s an interesting issue that I think we’re going to see played out the entire season. I’m not sure what they’re going to do with the testing schedule I know talking to JC (Tretter) they had talked testing every single day for everybody. The league obviously shot that down, I don’t know if that was financially incentivized or whatnot but it’ll be interesting to see what happens. If the protocols change at some point. It’s obviously something that’s moving, the protocols and guidelines are changing day to day I think it seems."

During a press briefing, Packers Coach Matt LaFleur refused to get into vaccination status or anything relating to it. "We're going to rally around Jordan Love," he said.

"Everybody has to make their own personal decision. That's just what it is," LaFleur said.

NFL.com reports Rodgers received homeopathic treatment from his personal doctor in order to raise his antibody levels. Rodgers asked the NFL to review his status but the league declined to make an exception for Rodgers per their COVID-19 protocol.

Pelissero also cited a statement from the NFL, saying they are reviewing enforcement of COVID-19 protocols with the Packers after Rodgers’ positive COVID-19 test.

According to the NFL's COVID-19 policy, all players and staff who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 must wear masks at all times when inside a club's facility. Unvaccinated Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 people including players are prohibited from gathering in groups of more than three outside of the club facility's or when traveling. Only fully vaccinated members of Tier 1 and Tier 2 staff members may travel with the team.

Rodgers has been seen at several press conferences without a mask. Rules also say he shouldn’t be traveling with the team, yet the Packers tweeted out photos of him traveling with the team to Arizona last week. Rodgers was also seen in photos and videos at a Halloween party with other players last weekend, which is also prohibited.

The NFL says each team is individually responsible for its club. In a statement today they said: “The primary responsibility for enforcement of the Covid Protocols within Club facilities rests with each Club. Failure to properly enforce the protocols has resulted in discipline being assessed against individual Clubs in the past. The league is aware of the current situation in Green Bay and will be reviewing with the Packers.”

Rodgers will be out at least 10 days. There is a chance he could be cleared next Saturday in time for the Sunday game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rodgers is not the first to be placed on the reserve COVID-19 list, but his reported absence may be the most felt. Davante Adams and Allen Lazard were both placed on the list and missed a game. So was defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who attended meetings virtually during his absence.

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