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Welcome to the new normal, at least for the 2020 NFL season. Earlier today, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network noted that there will be a new reserve/COVID-19 list this season. Players placed on the list will be on their until they are medically cleared to return:
Details are still emerging about the NFL/NFLPA deal: There’s a temporary IR for a COVID positive player & placement is immediate. His return is subject to medical clearance. A team may move up a P-squad player to replace him, then can return that player to the PS without waivers.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 26, 2020
On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns announced the first two players who have been placed on the list: RB Dontrell Hilliard and S Jovante Moffatt. By being placed on the list, it means one of two things: either the player tested positive for COVID-19, or they are currently in quarantine due to being in close contact with someone who had a positive case. Teams may not disclose the specific reason.
Players are slowly coming back to Berea, so one can’t assume that Hilliard and Moffatt are the only cases. More cases could be on the way, and it’ll probably be like that for the rest of the NFL season for every team. Some more rules have been put into place for 2020 like expanded practice squads; after our training camp previews are done, we will recap all of those issues.