Lions’ Matthew Stafford, multiple 49ers offensive players placed on teams’ covid-19 lists

Stafford became the latest star NFL player to have a coronavirus-related issue, while the 49ers closed their training facility and were working remotely Wednesday on the eve of their game against the Packers after receiving a positive test result by a player. The NFL was planning for the 49ers-Packers game to be played as scheduled Thursday night in Santa Clara, Calif., according to a person familiar with the matter.

49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne reportedly tested positive. Offensive tackle Trent Williams and wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were classified as high-risk close contacts and placed on five-day quarantines. Williams and Aiyuk will miss Thursday’s game as a result, while Samuel already was to miss the game because of a hamstring injury. The 49ers announced that Bourne, Aiyuk, Samuel and Williams were placed on the covid-19 reserve list.

That did not change the NFL’s view that the game will be played Thursday night as scheduled. The league told teams in a memo Tuesday that teams and players can greatly reduce the risks of players being categorized as high-risk close contacts by following protocols related to mask-wearing and distancing.

The 49ers said in an earlier written statement that they learned of the positive test result Wednesday and the player “immediately went into self-quarantine” while they entered the NFL’s intensive protocols for any team with coronavirus cases or exposed to the virus. The 49ers said that “all team functions” would be conducted virtually Wednesday.

“The health and safety of our players, staff and community are the organization’s highest priority,” the 49ers said in their statement. “We will continue to work closely with the NFL and medical professionals and will follow their direction.”

The Packers had no new positive test results Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the results. Running back A.J. Dillon reportedly tested positive in the round of daily testing conducted Sunday. Running back Jamaal Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin were identified as close contacts and placed in five-day quarantines, meaning they also will miss Thursday’s game.

In Stafford’s case, he must be in quarantine for five days under the NFL’s protocols after being classified as a high-risk close contact to an individual with the coronavirus. According to a person familiar with the case, Stafford’s contact came Monday and his quarantine runs Tuesday through Saturday. So he would be eligible to play in the Lions’ game Sunday at Minnesota, barring a positive test or any symptoms.

Stafford would be prohibited from traveling with the Lions to the Minneapolis area Saturday on the fifth day of his quarantine. But the Lions would be permitted, under NFL policy, to arrange a private plane for him to travel to the Twin Cities.

The Lions had no new positive test results Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the results, after they placed linebacker Jarrad Davis on their covid-19 reserve list Tuesday. All team facilities were closed Tuesday for Election Day.

The Lions announced the roster move with Stafford but did not specify whether he tested positive or was exposed to the virus. The covid-19 reserve list is for players in both categories. This is Stafford’s second stint on the list after he was placed on it during training camp in August. The Lions said at the time that it was for a false positive test result.

The Denver Broncos announced they were operating remotely Wednesday and placing a practice squad player on their covid-19 reserve list, but they said they planned to practice Thursday. The Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears had no new positive test results Wednesday, according to a person familiar with those results. All those teams had coronavirus-related issues in recent days.