Getty Kurt Benkert #7 of the Green Bay Packers scrambles with the ball against the New York Jets in the first half of a NFL preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 21, 2021, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The Green Bay Packers have still not made it to the other side of their worst COVID-19 outbreak this year.
The Packers placed third-string quarterback Kurt Benkert on the practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, November 1, in an expected move that came after Benkert revealed on Twitter earlier in the day that he had contracted COVID-19 — though, clearly, the virus has not impacted the 26-year-old’s sense of humor.
When you get Covid the same week that @CallofDuty Vanguard releases.
“When you get Covid the same week that @CallofDuty Vanguard releases,” he wrote, referring to the much-anticipated new version of the first-person shooter video game.
Benkert is the third player to be designated for the Packers’ COVID-19 list since the beginning of last week when issues with the virus also arose for wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard as well as defensive coordinator Joe Barry. While Lazard — who was an unvaccinated close-contact player required to miss a minimum of five days — has since been activated again, Adams and Barry remained stuck in the league’s COVID-19 protocol as of Tuesday evening.
According to the NFL’s COVID-related operating principles, Adams and Barry each have to produce two negative COVID-19 tests 24 hours apart and be asymptomatic before returning to the team. Benkert will follow the same return protocol if he is vaccinated — he has not publicly specified whether he is — but things are more complicated if he isn’t. Unvaccinated players who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days and cannot return to the team until they are asymptomatic.
The Packers have also dealt with several other COVID-19 issues throughout the first half of the 2021 season. Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery was forced to miss their home opener against the Detroit Lions on September 21 due to COVID-19 protocol, while defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster (September 28 to October 9) and Malik Taylor (October 15 to October 28) have each spent time on the COVID reserve list. Lancaster was placed on the list on September 28, and later that day NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweeted that Lancaster tested positive for the virus. Taylor, whose vaccination status hasn’t been publicly disclosed, missed practice on October 15 and was added to the injury report with an “illness” before being placed on the COVID reserve list.
The latest Packers news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Packers newsletter here!
COVID Issues Reminiscent of November 2020
The Packers’ current issues with COVID-19 feel somewhat similar to last year’s biggest outbreak during Week 9 of the 2020 season — when the team had AJ Dillon, Jamaal Williams, Kamal Martin, Krys Barnes and Jordan Love all at the same time.
When the outbreak happened in November 2020, the Packers’ running back room was in an awkward place with Aaron Jones battling an injury. He ended up playing through it against the San Francisco 49ers that week, but they also had to lean on Tyler Ervin and Dexter Williams out of the backfield, which was less than desirable.
Barnes and Dillon also each spent extensive time away from the team due to the COVID-19. After winning a start job at inside linebacker, Barnes missed three straight games and took a few to fully get back into the swing of things for the defense. Meanwhile, Dillon missed more than a month and noted when he returned in December that dealing with the virus is “no joke.”
Aaron Rodgers Ruled Out Due to COVID-19 Issues
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Packers since Benkert tested positive. On Wednesday, the Packers also learned that starting quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers would have to miss Week 9’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the reason for Rodgers’ absence was that he had tested positive and was unvaccinated, but the Packers are not allowed to comment on whether one of their players tested positive for COVID-19 or their vaccination status.
From NFL Now: Making sense of the #Packers situation surrounding QB Aaron Rodgers, who tested positive for COVID-19, and what is next.
Without Rodgers or Benkert available, the Packers are expected to re-sign veteran quarterback Blake Bortles to their practice squad and will roll with 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love as their starting quarterback on Sunday against the Chiefs. The good news is Love could be making his first career start with the Packers’ top receiving weapon available, as head coach Matt LaFleur indicated the team is “hoping” Adams will be able to rejoin the team at practice on Thursday.