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The Pittsburgh Steelers placed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and three others on the reserve / COVID-19 list after being deemed close high-risk contact with Vance McDonald, who returned a positive test for the virus on Monday.
As high-risk contacts, Roethlisberger, OL Jerald Hawkins, RB Jaylen Samuels and LB Vince Williams must self-isolate for five days after their last contact with McDonald’s, and they cannot return to the UPMC training center Rooney for at least those five days. They are allowed to participate virtually in team meetings.
All four will be tested throughout the week before eventually being eligible to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While Roethlisberger has reportedly “been diligent” with his demeanor around others in regards to the pandemic, he has been seen on the sidelines speaking to McDonald’s without wearing a mask. The two are friends and have lockers close to each other. Roethlisberger, however, did not test positive.
Dr Allen Sills of the NFL has previously said that the deciding factor for the high-risk designation is often determined by whether the person has had close contact without wearing a mask.
McDonald’s was placed on the COVID-19 list on Monday evening after testing positive and must self-isolate for at least 10 days.
Although he missed Friday’s practice with an illness designation, McDonald’s traveled with the team on a plane to Dallas on Saturday.
The team remains in the intensive COVID-19 protocol dating from last week after Baltimore Ravens DB Marlon Humphrey tested positive following the Steelers-Ravens game.
The Steelers can check out the Ravens timeline with Humphrey testing positive on Nov. 2 to get a feel for how this week might play out.
Humphrey was placed on the reserve / COVID-19 list on Monday to begin his 10-day quarantine. The next day, the Ravens placed seven players identified as Humphrey’s high-risk contacts on the roster. Matthew Judon was taken off the list on Thursday, while the other six were activated on Saturday. Six of the players contested Sunday’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Now only Humphrey remains on the list.
Throughout the season, Roethlisberger has been a strong advocate for taking precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
“We have to be careful, be careful and protect each other,” Roethlisberger said in October. “Fans are allowed in the stadium, which means we’re allowed to have guests in town and things like that. In the Roethlisberger family, we don’t change a thing. No guests come to town. But there are a few. challenges have been presented and I hope the guys can continue to be as careful and careful as we have been so far. “
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