NFL Teams With COVID-19 Outbreaks Will Forfeit Games: Report

PHOENIX, AZ — NFL teams that have COVID-19 outbreaks among unvaccinated players during the 2021 regular season will have to forfeit games.

That's the news, first reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero Thursday, which means that teams like the Arizona Cardinals could be penalized if their players do not get a vaccination before the season begins.

"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," Pelissero tweeted. "Massive implications.

The league-wide memo, which was sent to all 32 teams by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, says the league has no chance of making up games that are missed because of the virus, thanks to the new 17-game regular season.

"As we learned last year, we can play a full season if we maintain a firm commitment to adhering to our health and safety protocols and to making needed adjustments in response to changing conditions," Goodell's memo reads.

"These operating principles are designed to allow us to play a full season in a safe and responsible way and address possible competitive or financial issues fairly."

Cardinals All-Pro wide receiver Deandre Hopkins took to Twitter in the immediate aftermath of Goodell's announcement to announce that he would not get a COVID-19 vaccination, regardless of the NFL's policy on the matter.

"Never thought I would say this, But being put in a position to hurt my team because I don’t want to partake in the vaccine is making me question my future in the NFL," Hopkins tweet read.

Goodell's memo highlights that more than 75 percent of NFL players, and close to 100 percent of team staff, have been vaccinated so far.

It's that widespread vaccination rate that encouraged Goodell and NFL leadership in general to support such a step for teams that aren't in compliance.

"If a vaccinated person tests positive and is asymptomatic, he or she will be isolated and contact tracing will promptly occur. The positive individual will be permitted to return to duty after two negative tests at least 24-hours apart and will thereafter be tested every two weeks or as directed by the medical staffs," the memo reads.

"If an unvaccinated person tests positive, the protocols from 2020 will remain in effect. The person will be isolated for a period of 10 days and will then be permitted to return to duty if asymptomatic."

Additionally, Goodell's memo says that anyone with a previous COVID-19 infection will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they've had at least one dose of an approved vaccine.

He lays out after that, that the league will not add a 19th week of the regular season to make up missed games, with teams responsible for ensuring their teams are ready for play each week.

"Every club is obligated under the Constitution and Bylaws to have its team ready to play at the scheduled time and place," the memo reads. "A failure to do so is deemed conduct detrimental. There is no right to postpone a game. Postponements will only occur if required by government authorities, medical experts, or at the Commissioner's discretion."

The Arizona Cardinals kick off the 2021 regular season in Nashville on Sept. 12, when they face off against the Tennessee Titans.