Bills' Sean McDermott concerned players aren't getting COVID-19 vaccine shots?

Similar to MLB, the NFL is reportedly considering loosening certain COVID-19 health and safety protocols for teams that reach or exceed an 85% threshold of players fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. 

It appears the Buffalo Bills won't be among those clubs anytime soon. 

Per Adam Benigni of Buffalo's WGRZ, Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Tuesday he's "concerned" about the number of players who have and haven't voluntarily received the shots. The NFL and NFL Players Association aren't mandating players be vaccinated to participate in official team activities, and Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen suggested in April he may pass on the available vaccines. 

McDermott wouldn't confirm the specific vaccination statuses of any players. 

Bills general manager Brandon Beane raised eyes earlier this month when he hinted he may cut unvaccinated players to avoid potential "headaches" and inconveniences associated with the team not reaching the vaccination threshold announced by the NFL. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and NFL executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash offered strong responses to Beane's comments during the annual Sports Lawyers Association conference last week. 

"When a general manager speaks out and says something that is not only inconsistent with league policy, but just has a rank disregard for the rights of our players, I don't know any other way of characterizing that other than just the stupidity that underlines it," Smith said at that time. 

Pash added: "Our labor agreement is pretty clear on what grounds you can and can’t release a player for, and there is not a requirement that players be vaccinated."