The Kansas City Chiefs has placed star defensive tackle Chris Jones on the reserve/COVID-19 list, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the Chiefs announced that a staff member had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported the staff member in question is head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder.
One of the top athletic trainers in the NFL, Burkholder is in his eighth season with the Chiefs and second as VP of Sports Medicine. Trainers are at the forefront of keeping COVID-19 protocol.
Jones did not test positive but was a close contact with someone who tested positive, Garafolo reported. Due to the nature of the league's COVID-19 protocol it unclear if Jones would be available to Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
"The club was notified this morning that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19," the teams said in a statement Thursday. "The individual is self-quarantining, under the team's medical care, and contact tracing is taking place. The team is now in the NFL's Intensive Protocol and working closely with the league and medical experts.
"The health and safety of our players, coaches and staff members remains our number one priority."
