We live in some very weird times. At the start of the NFL season, while most players were vaccinated, there was a lingering group which had yet to be vaccinated. Aside from the obvious benefits, unvaccinated players have a huge number of protocols that they have to follow, which vaccinated players do not.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers indicated before the season that he was vaccinated, saying, “Yeah, I’ve been immunized.”
That is not the case, according to multiple reports from NFL Network. Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 this week, will miss this weekend’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs and will be out at least 10 days due to the fact that he is unvaccinated.
Both Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Rodgers is unvaccinated, which is confirmed by his immediate ruling out on Sunday.
The fact that Rodgers indicated he was vaccinated, saying “a lot of research” went into that decision, makes this news all the more bizarre. It also means the player drafted to replace him, Jordan Love, will start his first game against Kansas City this weekend.
According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN, Rodgers petitioned the league to have an “alternative treatment” count as a league-approved vaccination this offseason. The NFL ultimately denied the request.