Dez Bryant had been waiting for this game since April 18, 2018, the day the Dallas Cowboys, the only team he’d ever known, had released him. Once, one of the very best players in the NFL, his career had been ravaged by injuries… but he was finally back. He was ready to stick it to the team that gave up on him. Only for that opportunity to be taken away just 30 minutes before kickoff due to a positive COVID test.
Bryant was understandably upset and he lashed out via social media, even going so far as to say he was quitting, he has since retracted that statement. But something that seems to be lost in all of this uproar is the NFL’s COVID-19 safety protocol. Despite Dez warming up on the field with quarterbacks and other receivers and going to the Dallas sideline and greeting and talking to his other teammates, the game was still allowed to be played. While contract tracing did take place and no “high risk” close contacts were identified, there are pictures and videos of him making “close contact” with many others.
While the loss of Bryant didn’t slow down the Ravens much, they steamrolled Dallas 34-17, and Bryant was later cleared after testing negative for COVID two days later, this debacle showed just how flawed League’s COVID-19 protocol is. All of this comes roughly a week after the Broncos were forced to start a practice squad WR at quarterback and in a before a game that had to be played on a Tuesday due to an outbreak in the Ravens facility. Even though players and the League seem to be against a bubble, come playoff time this might have to be an option. Imagine if something like this happened in the playoffs? It simply wouldn't be fair for any player or team that spent the whole season to get to that point, just for the opportunity to be taken from them due to a postive, false positive, or inconclusive test. While making a bubble for NFL players, coaches, and training staff seems like a logistical train wreck, Bleacher Report's Master Tesfatsion lays out a possible solution.
While the season is still going, it doesn't feel sustainable if it continues down this path. Hopefully team owners and league officials have other ideas or this situation could go downhill quickly.