The Atlanta Falcons have joined their Week 5 opponent in the NFL's intensive COVID-19 protocol.
The Falcons became the second club to enter the protocol following the team's placement of rookie defensive tackle Marlon Davidson on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Atlanta's most recent opponent, the Carolina Panthers, entered the intensive protocol earlier Wednesday because of Davidson's placement on the list.
Davidson played 12 of 64 defensive snaps and five special-teams snaps in Week 5 for an Atlanta team that is now undertaking additional precautions that include daily point-of-care testing, shifting to strictly virtual meetings, and mandatory protective personal equipment (i.e., masks) use during practice.
The Minnesota Vikings followed a similar plan of precaution following the Tennessee Titans' COVID-19 outbreak within the organization earlier this season. The Vikings did not have any positive tests following the game, and so far, the Panthers have not placed a player on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted earlier Wednesday, there has been no evidence of transmission between players no opposing teams during a game.
