Mayfield blasts NFL's COVID protocols amid Browns outbreak

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Baker Mayfield blasts NFL's COVID-19 protocols amid Browns outbreak

By Adam Stites | Last updated 12/16/21

Positive tests are stacking up for the Cleveland Browns, who will almost definitely be without several key contributors for a Saturday game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Among those players may be starting quarterback Baker Mayfield who was placed on the COVID/reserve list Wednesday, the same day Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski tested positive as well.

A day after Mayfield joined 17 other Browns players on the COVID/Reserve list, he took to Twitter to criticize the NFL for its testing protocols.

@NFL Make up your damn mind on protocols. Showing up and making only 3 teams test?!? All so you can keep the game as scheduled to make money.
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) December 16, 2021

Actually caring about player safety would mean delaying the game with this continuing at the rate it is….
But to say you won’t test vaccinated players if they don’t have symptoms, then to pull this randomly. Doesn’t make any sense to me.
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) December 16, 2021

Tell me if this makes sense…. No tests this morning… then let our team gather for practice… then show up after practice to test them. Something seems off here.
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) December 16, 2021

Mayfield, 26, has a chance to come off the list in time to play Saturday, needing only one negative test before 4 p.m. on Friday. Previously, he would've needed two negative tests 24 hours apart, but the NFL updated its protocols Thursday to allow vaccinated players a pathway to a quicker return. His tweets Thursday came as news broke that backup quarterback Case Keenum also tested positive, putting third-stringer Nick Mullens in line to start.

While Mayfield's assertion that the NFL had "only three teams test" is still unexplained, his frustration has reportedly stemmed from the league's rapidly changing protocols and the inconsistency of their rollout.

#Browns were initially told by the NFL this AM that *only* players + staffers who self-reported symptoms or were close contacts had to be tested.

But while their afternoon practice was underway, the NFL told them to test *all* players and staff — regardless of status/symptoms.
— KimberlEY A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) December 16, 2021

Earlier Thursday, Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett expressed concern about the relaxing of the standard to return from the COVID/reserve list.

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