A thread on this week's adjustments to NFL COVID plan, which includes additional categories for close contacts.

Here's the link to the full 70+ page document if you're interested in the specific language.

playsmartplaysafe.com/wp-content/upl…

1/n The NFL now has three defined categories for those in contact with a COVID+ person.

Low - Medium - High

Definitions of these categories to follow...

2/n

Earlier this week, I questioned whether ATL (no close contacts reported, cleared to play, no subsequent positives) or TEN (cleared to play, ongoing outbreak) was the outlier situation with respect to contact tracing and testing protocols.

1/n Lots of strong reporting this morning suggests contact tracing and practice protocols were appropriate in ATL while league is investigating how TEN handled those same protocols.

2/n

I have lots of questions about the last few days of positive COVID tests in the NFL.

This is going to be a little disjointed.

So...a thread.

1/n Report: Atlanta had a player -- cornerback A.J. Terrell -- test positive Friday or Saturday. The Falcons were cleared to play on the strength of reassuring contact tracing and negative testing through gameday.

2/n

Tyreek Hill

Earlier in week, felt Hill's status was either-or proposition. If medical staff felt comfortable w/ stability of sternoclavicular joint, Hill was likely to play and see his pre-injury snaps and workload.

1/x Tyreek Hill

Felt pre-injury workload was likely because:

*stable joint means risk of re-injury low and same on snap 47 as snap 1.

*Hill's role in offense is known commodity and doesn't require advance notice to game plan

**KC depth chart offers no Hill-like alternatives

2/x

Lots of follow up to come on injuries overnight and tomorrow.

Expect Ben Roethlisberger, James Conner, and Drew Brees -- among others -- to have MRIs to further evaluate their injuries.

Early thoughts ...

1/x Ben Roethlisberger:

Reached for top of elbow, non-contact injury, possible early-week inflammation.

Just my early speculation, but looks more likely tennis elbow type injury or muscle strain than UCL sprain. Hopefully, rest and rehab and short absence.

Should know more soon.

Lots of players are injury prone. Medical and training staff knows which of their players are at highest risk. While possible to estimate a player’s risk based on what we know — there’s so much we don’t know that it’s hard to handicap how good that “estimate” may be.

https://twitter.com/SigmundBloom/status/1112040354222624768

For example, we know players with previous ACL tears are at higher risk of another ACL injury. They are “prone to injury.” Some of those have associated meniscal or cartilage injuries that will shorten careers. They are injury prone. And there are tons and tons of other examples.

Helmet-to-helmet hit with dizziness after the game for Austin Ekeler. Anthony Lynn wouldn't confirm but obviously worrisome for concussion. Would be very difficult to gain clearance for road Thursday night game if so.

https://twitter.com/eric_d_williams/status/1071948971277471745

Interesting that Ekeler talked to reporters in locker room, however. Lynn reporting dizziness after hit suggests concussion. But Ekeler would unlikely have been cleared to talk to the media if he was in return to play protocol.

Now, Schefter reporting stinger as diagnosis.

Odd.

More on Rodgers:

He referenced a "clean up" procedure from 2015 immediately after the game. Although there are multiple types of clean up procedures, ACL injuries are often associated with meniscus (and cartilage) injuries.

1/x There was no obvious ligament mechanism on replay. Was odd to have a usually conservative medical staff clear Rodgers to return - and continue to allow him to play- with a ligament injury that looked progressively more limiting. So, other possibilities seemed likely.

2/x

Interesting to hear Aaron Rodgers reference prior clean-up procedure to left knee in 2015 and note the use of a sleeve to keep his knee loose.

https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/1039002334599303168

Given Rodgers' comments, the lack of a clear injury mechanism, and an ordinarily conservative Packers' med staff allowing Rodgers to play through obvious discomfort, it's reasonable to wonder if his injury is cartilage related rather than a ligament sprain.

Best way to stay updated on critical injury news? 1/3

Add this list of top injury follows. twitter.com/JeneBramel/lis…

Includes the major national news-breakers and the best analysts in the industry.

Minimal noise, no risk of getting fooled by fake accounts. Best way to stay updated on critical injury news? 2/3

Consider adding that list as a separate column on your Twitter platform.

@MattWaldman shows you how with Tweetdeck here ~

It's how I keep injury news and updates separate from the Sunday firehose.

Since the NFL isn't educating today - despite continued instances where post-investigation press releases are necessary - I'll make an armchair effort at my own peril. 😎 No, concussions shouldn't be diagnosed on the strength of video evidence alone. One shouldn't always assume an athlete is showing gross motor instability. But trained spotters are there for a reason. Video can and should be used.

Thread on Michael Thomas: Not surprising to see reports Saints want to test him in pregame warmups. That's what Saints were telling us when they added him so late in the week. Thomas' situation very unusual. Can't think of comp for offensive skill position player added 24 hours after final practice of week with soft tissue injury not reported in previous weeks.

Beckham: Likely to play. Difficult to know how many routes he'll run that give him chance to separate despite yet-to-be-recovered ankle. NYG likely won't specifically scheme decoy routes but there will be times Beckham will run routes he will struggle to win on.

Impact was to outside of Howard shoulder on touchdown run. Tough to gauge severity of injury. Didn't hear about imaging/specialist visit. So, mostly reassuring on Howard. Don't see much risk he's inactive. But Cohen emerging and shoulder injuries tough for running backs.

Watching David Johnson video. Only wind knocked out on second-to-last play. Think hurt making tackle. Thoughts @JeffBudoff @ProFootballDoc @JeffBudoff @ProFootballDoc This mechanism much more consistent w/ wrist sprain than earlier direct blow. And Johnson immediately favored after tackle.

Prior to today's press conference, was still slim hope Luck would return to practice this wk and available w/in two wks. That hope is gone. Luck needs two weeks, and possibly three, throwing to teammates in practice before he's capable of playing in a game.

Discussed Tannehill in depth on our podcast right now. Quick thread on why reports were reassuring but didn't fully add up. Partial ACL tears don't heal. There's some scarring but joint stability is key.

LaCanfora reporting he's heard rumblings Andrew Luck could be placed on inseason PUP. Quick thread on why that's tough to buy right now. Clear that Colts waited as long as possible to clear Luck to throw. Likely hoped to minimize risk of soreness, inflammation, setback.