On the same day that the NFL tightened COVID-19 protocols for all players, the Jets new starting quarterback revealed he is unvaccinated.
Joe Flacco, who is starting in place of the injured Zach Wilson and the surprisingly benched Mike White, wore a mask into his post-practice news conference Wednesday. Masks are an indoors requirement for all players who have not received at least one dose of one of the three approved vaccines, which accounts for about 6 percent of the NFL.
“I definitely have my reasons,” Flacco said after confirming his status. “I’d honestly like to talk about this topic more than anybody. It’s one of those things you debate all the time, but I’ve overall felt like it’s more of a distraction than anything. So I feel like to talk about it too much and give you all my beliefs is more of a distraction than anything. I think the most important thing is going to play a football game.”
In the week following Thanksgiving — when players presumably will be around a larger network of outside friends and family — all players whether vaccinated or not will be required to wear masks indoors. All teams will be required to allow the NFL access to expanded video surveillance to check for in-facility violations.
Flacco did not wear a mask when he met the media on Oct. 29 — his first day with the Jets after a trade from the Eagles — which could be a potential violation, though not equitable to Aaron Rodgers’ deception and weekly protocol defiance that led to a $300,000 fine for the Packers.
Asked if he paid extra-close attention to the Rodgers situation, Flacco said, “We all know what the rules are. So when those things happen, we’ve all been told what the protocols are, and we’re all following the protocols. Whether you believe it or not, it is what it is. If you want to go out there and play the game you love, you have to do what you have to do.”
The Jets activated DE Kyle Phillips off the physically unable to perform list. He could make his season debut Sunday, more than a year after his initial ankle injury. After designating Phillips to return to practice on Oct. 27, Wednesday was the deadline for the Jets to activate him or declare him out for the season.
In addition to Wilson (knee), the Jets listed LG Alijah Vera-Tucker (toe) and DL Nathan Shepherd (knee) as limited practice participants. Neither Vera-Tucker nor Shepherd is in danger of missing Sunday’s game, coach Robert Saleh said. Wilson is considered “day-to-day.”
WR Denzel Mims remains in the COVID-19 protocol. Saleh did not say whether Mims is symptomatic, only that “he feels good, but he’s got to test negative a couple of times.”