Subscribe
Follow Us
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will miss this weekend's game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a positive COVID-19 test. Ian Rapaport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network are reporting that Rodgers is unvaccinated, which is why he has already been ruled out.
This has set off a firestorm because back in August when Rodgers was asked if he was vaccinated, he claimed he was “immunized” and people assumed based off what he said that he had gotten the vaccine:
Aaron Rodgers confirmed he's had the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Yeah I've been immunized." he said. "There's guys on the team that haven't been vaccinated and it's personal decision, not going to judge those guys."
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 26, 2021
😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑 so either the reports are untrue about Aaron Rodgers not being vaccinated or HE’S THE WORST LIAR AND SITS ON A THRONE OF LIES pic.twitter.com/raUEbmQqxZ
— Anthony (Tony) Gill (@thetonygill) November 3, 2021
Aaron Rodgers also referenced unvaccinated teammates and said he wasn't going to judge them, which would also make one think he had gotten the shot:
Wowwwww what a snake… this is what Rodgers said in the off-season… he didn’t say he got the vaccine, just that he’s “immunized” pic.twitter.com/iGNMuFsoXp
— hfts (@forthesp0rts) November 3, 2021
However, there is a difference between being “immunized” and vaccinated:
#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was quoted as saying he’s been “immunized.” By the letter of the law in the NFL, that does not equal vaccinated. https://t.co/g5xyjDZ6uL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2021
Rapaport also reports that Rodgers has been following protocols for unvaccinated players while in the building for the Packers:
My understanding is that Aaron Rodgers has been following protocols for unvaccinated players while inside the building. https://t.co/g5xyjDZ6uL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2021
Some were wondering about Rodgers not wearing a mask on the sidelines, but apparently unvaccinated players who are active don't need to wear a mask:
Cleaning this up because it's important: active players who are unvaccinated do not have to wear masks on the sidelines, which is why Aaron Rodgers wasn't.
That's a very stupid rule for a league that required masks for everyone who was unvaccinated last year. But it's the rule
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) November 3, 2021
There are a number of other protocols unvaccinated players must follow, though:
Per restrictions, Rodgers can't:
– Eat with teammates
– Use same sauna or steam room
– Travel on the team plane
– Leave hotel room to interact with people outside the organization on road tripsMust:
– Wear masks for all press conferences
– Test daily for covid all season— Ian Kenyon (@ikenyonFB) November 3, 2021
The list of things that are off limits socially for unvaccinated players is very long, and players are subject to fines.
It includes things like an indoor house party or going to a bar/nightclub w/out PPE. pic.twitter.com/BEBKFoKnEV— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) November 3, 2021
This seems to be a pretty sticky situation for Aaron Rodgers, the Packers and the NFL. While you could technically argue he didn't lie when he used the word “immunized” to answer the vaccination question, it's clear everybody thought he was answering in the affirmative that he got the shot. It also seems rather dubious that he has been actually following all these protocols for unvaccinated players.
Whatever the case, assuming now that he actually is unvaccinated, Rodgers is out at least 10 days because of this positive test. Not only will he miss the game against the Chiefs, but he could be in danger of missing the Week 10 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
This will be a situation to monitor, and we'll see how Aaron Rodgers explains himself.
