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The Arizona Cardinals are now among the teams at 90+% vaccinated, this according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
This information comes on the heels of star receiver DeAndre Hopkins’ public frustration with the NFL’s new COVID policy.
The NFL just informed clubs that if a game cannot be rescheduled during the 18-week season in 2021 due to a COVID outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will FORFEIT and be credited with a loss for playoff seeding, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 22, 2021
Massive implications.
Regardless of how you feel about the vaccine, this scenario could have massive ramifications for teams with low vaccination rates.
Prior to Rapoport’s announcement, the Cardinals had been in the lower third tier in the league when it came to players who had been fully vaccinated.
Then there was the following quote from head coach Kliff Kingbury on Monday:
Kliff Kingsbury said the Cardinals’ entire coaching staff is vaccinated.
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) July 27, 2021
He was asked if there was an ultimatum: “Yes."
Then came this news out of camp yesterday:
JJ Watt just told us the Cardinals had another presentation about the vaccine yesterday. Players are well informed. https://t.co/6A9FIYyLXb
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) July 28, 2021
We still do not know if DeAndre Hopkins is among the few who remain unvaccinated for the Cardinals. What do we know is this information reduces the chances of the team potentially having to forfeit a game this fall.