It is not only in the National Hockey League that COVID-19 has reigned supreme for the past few days. The other major professional sports leagues in North America have been grappling with the resuscitation of the virus that has plagued the planet for almost two years.
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The NFL, which has postponed three of its games scheduled for the 15e week of activities, has also announced additional and more severe protocols, in order to “keep everyone safe and to be able to complete the season in a responsible manner”, we can read in a press release that they issued .
“After the games for the next weekend, we have agreed to put in place a new series of protocols, which will include a more precise plan for the tests, more flexibility in order to allow the players to attend the games virtually. team and an option that will allow players at higher risk to retire for the remainder of the season. “
The Cleveland Browns, Washington football team and Los Angeles Rams have been hit hard in the past few days, but the NFL appears to have acted in time to limit the spread of the virus among these three teams, which should presumably be able to be on the field for the postponed games in which they are involved.
In fact, the Rams have removed the names of six players from the list of athletes unavailable due to the virus, including that of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but added those of two other of their players. They thus reduced the number of their members on this list to 25.
In the NBA, owners continue to find ways to avoid canceling or postponing certain games.
During a call from the NBA board of governors on Friday, they voted to allow teams to have a list of replacement players, in the event of an outbreak within its ranks. The league and its players’ association, however, must approve the whole thing.
In the last days, the league and its players had also agreed to increase the protocols to be followed during the holiday season, to limit the spread.
The Brooklyn Nets, among others, could be one of the teams to have to use this new list of substitutes, since nine players have had their names put on the list of players unavailable due to COVID-19, including the stars. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Unvaccinated, the latter had still not played a game this season, but the New York team was considering bringing him back for the duels outside the Big Apple. His return will therefore have to wait.
