November 19, 2020   3 MIN READ

Multiple Eagles Placed On Reserve/Covid-19 List

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(Updated: 4:45 p.m.)
The NFL’s new intensive Covid-19 protocol that’s expected to tighten up safety measures isn’t supposed to begin until Saturday.

The Eagles on Thursday got a head start, taking extra precautions as two wide receivers and two other players were placed on the Reserve/Covid-19 list.

Multiple sources told Inside The Birds’ Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan that second-year wideout J.J. Arcega-Whiteside tested positive and is in isolation, which the team later confirmed.

The Eagles also placed defensive end Vinny Curry and running back Corey Clement the Reserve/Covid-19 list. It’s unclear if either tested positive or were close to someone who did.

The Eagles, at 3-5-1, could be further undermanned when they play the Browns on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Cleveland.

Rookie wide receiver John Hightower, who missed practice, was deemed close to Arcega-Whiteside but not put on any list while practice squad receiver Deontary Burnett was placed on the Practice Squad Covid-19 list.

Here’s the team’s official statement on the Covid cases:

Arcega-Whiteside, who was drafted 57th overall in the second round last year, hadn’t done much this season to improve upon a disappointing rookie year. He was inactive in last Sunday’s game against the Giants as the team activated Alshon Jeffery for the first time.

Hightower, a rookie drafted in the fifth round who leads the team with an average of 18.4 yards per catch, has also seen his playing time scaled back with first-round pick Jalen Reagor and Jeffery back to full strength. Burnett, in his second season with the Eagles, is on the practice squad.

The Eagles were in intensive protocol last week when a member of the coaching staff tested positive for Covid-19. All meetings were held virtually, but practice remained at the NovaCare Complex. The team was without three defensive coaches, Caplan reported on the latest Inside The Birds podcast.

With rising coronavirus cases around the country, and with worse conditions expected this winter, the NFL implemented newer guidelines that will begin Saturday, including mask mandates at all facilities, reduced close contact between coaches and players and all meetings being held virtually.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

Listen to the latest “Inside The Birds” podcast with Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher:

About The Author

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Geoff Mosher is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years experience covering the Eagles, the NFL and other college and pro sports across several different multimedia platforms. He is co-host of the acclaimed Inside the Birds podcast, the leading podcast for intel on the Philadelphia Eagles, and co-host on 97.3 ESPN's drive-time show. He has also hosted on Philadelphia's sports-talk station, 94.1 WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic. Geoff was the lead Eagles Insider from 2012-2015 for NBC Sports Philadelphia, where he wrote for the website and appeared daily on the station's TV shows, including Quick Slants, Philly Sports Talk, Eagles Pregame/Postgame Live and Eagles Extra. Prior to joining NBC Sports, Geoff worked the Eagles beat from 2005-2012 for the Wilmington News Journal, where he broke several major news stories and also won an Associated Press Sports Editors award under the category of Breaking News for his coverage of the sudden death of Phillies play by play broadcaster Harry Kalas. Geoff has appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter, NFL Network, NBC Sports Network, FOX29, 6ABC and has conducted interviews for Sirius/XM NFL radio and countless other radio stations across the country.

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