Detroit Lions place Matthew Stafford on reserve/COVID-19 list

According to several reports, the Detroit Lions are placing starting quarterback Matthew Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

As a reminder, this does not necessarily mean that Stafford has tested positive for the coronavirus. It could also mean he has come into contact with someone who has tested positive. Given that seven other Lions have been placed on the same list, it’s certainly possible that’s the outcome.

The other seven Lions on the reserve/COVID-19 list include wide receiver Kenny Golladay, tight end T.J. Hockenson and Isaac Nauta, cornerbacks Justin Coleman and Amani Oruwariye, safety Jalen Elliott and punter Arryn Siposs.

Lions players that passed three rounds of COVID-19 testing were allowed into the building for the first time on Saturday to conduct preliminary physicals. On Monday, strength and conditioning drills and walkthroughs are kicking off.

As for Stafford and the other seven players on the COVID-19 list, they will have to follow a strict quarantine protocol, as outlined below—separated by cases in which there was a positive test and if the player simply came into contact with an infected person:

In other words, we could see these players back as soon as five days or as long as it takes for symptoms to disappear. Either way, these players will likely miss the first few days or weeks as players begin to file in for training camp.

There’s no word on the current state of Stafford’s health, but obviously with a newborn baby in house and a wife who underwent a serious brain surgery just over a year ago, that should come first for the Staffords.

UPDATE: Stafford appears to be asymptomatic: