The Colts have placed Carson Wentz on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, reducing the chances of him being able to play in their Week 1 game. He’ll miss almost all of their practices this week, hurting his ability to come back from his foot surgery.

Reports indicate Wentz didn’t test positive but instead is a close contact of a staff member who tested positive. Center Ryan Kelly and wide receiver Zach Pascal also are going on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

This is an indication that all three players are unvaccinated. Per the league’s COVID protocols, if an unvaccinated player comes in close contact with somebody testing positive, they are out for five days. If they test positive themselves, they’re out for 10 days, coming back when they’re symptom-free and pass two tests 24 hours apart.

The rules are more favorable for vaccinated players – they can’t be sidelined by contacting, and there’s no 10-day sidelining for a positive test (they can return as soon as they’re symptom-free and can pass two tests 24 hours apart.)

This is more problematic for Wentz because he’s already missed a bunch of practice time. He could have used the reps to help get him ready (physically and mentally) for the opener against Seattle. Instead, the Colts might have to start Jacob Eason in that game.

Wentz serves as a reminder that if a player is unvaccinated, it reduces his value for fantasy purposes. Not by much, but such players are far more likely to be sidelined at some point for a violation of the league’s COVID protocols. It makes sense, therefore, to slot unvaccinated players behind comparable players who come without that additional risk.

The NFL has put together an 88-page manual outlining all of its COVID protocols. It’s long, and it’s written in a legalese style, but it’s there, you should want to look in more detail at specific scenarios. Big picture: if a player isn’t vaccinated, it’s a lot more likely he’ll need to miss some time at some point.

For our purposes, we’re most interested in the skill-position players who’ll be drafted in fantasy leagues. So we’re taking note of those guys when see them in news stories or releases by the team. Some players have made comments about their vaccination status. Others have been seen wearing masks at practices and games (not proof that a player is unvaccinated, but evidence that he’s probably in that group. And when a player spends five days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, it’s almost always because of contacting with a positive person (vaccinated players don’t get placed on the list for contacting reasons, but unvaccinated players do).

Neither the league nor individual teams have released an official list showing which players are vaccinated. There no doubt are some (perhaps many) key players who are unvaccinated that we’re not aware of. And similarly, players who were unvaccinated in July could potentially be vaccinated now. But below is our team-by-team list of the notable COVID-risk players.

ARIZONA:
James Conner spent five days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in mid-August (he likely was not vaccinated at that time).
DeAndre Hopkins ranted in July that he didn’t like the NFL’s COVID rules, but he didn’t say in that tweet (which was quickly deleted) whether he was vaccinated. When he was watching the first preseason game from the sideline, Hopkins (and teammate A.J. Green) weren’t wearing masks, an indication that they have been vaccinated.

ATLANTA:
The Falcons in mid-August said they were the first team to get their entire roster 100 percent vaccinated.

BALTIMORE:
Lamar Jackson spent 10 days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August. He’s contracted COVID-19 twice in the last year, missing a game in 2020. In early August, he said he’d looked into the pros and cons of getting vaccinated, but that it was a personal decision. Doesn’t sound like he’ll be getting vaccinated anytime soon, and Jackson during their last preseason game (see photo) was on the sidelines wearing a mask (but not properly – he had it down around his chin).
Gus Edwards spent 10 days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late July and early August. That likely means he tested positive and wasn’t vaccinated at that time.

BUFFALO:
Cole Beasley has been the most vocal critic of COVID protocols, indicating he won’t be getting vaccinated. He spent five days the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late August because of a contacting risk.
Josh Allen in June said he wasn’t vaccinated but would look into it (as with Lamar Jackson, doesn’t seem like it will be happening anytime soon). Allen and Beasley were standing together on the sidelines of the Bills-Bears game in mid-August, not wearing masks. That, however, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re vaccinated. Other unvaccinated players have worn masks on the sideline during games (including Cam Newton and Kirk Cousins) but the Bills might be interpreting the guidelines differently. On page 50 of the mega-document, it reads: “Any such individual with Bench Area Access who is not fully vaccinated, except for Active Players, shall be required to wear masks at all times; unvaccinated Inactive Players (e.g., Practice Squad or IR) who are on the sideline must also wear masks.” Allen and Beasley were in uniform (even wearing shoulder pads) so they could reasonably argue that they were “active” players, even though it was clear they were never going to play. And this might be what the league intended when it wrote the rule. The protocols call for a fine of $14,650 for a first-time offense of the mask rule, but there’s been no announcement of any fines so far.
Gabriel Davis spent five days the Reserve/COVID-19 list in late August because of a contacting risk. This is an indication that he’s not vaccinated. Davis did not test positive and likely will be activated about Aug. 28.
Isaiah McKenzie was fined $14,650 by the league for not wearing a mask at times inside the team’s facility on Aug. 25. He got vaccinated a few days later.

CAROLINA:
Christian McCaffrey in June declined to say whether he was vaccinated. But McCaffrey was on the sidelines of the preseason game against the Steelers, in street clothes and not wearing a mask; that’s a strong indication that he’s vaccinated.
Sam Darnold in June declined to say whether he was vaccinated but in July said he would be vaccinated before the start of training camp. A Charlotte newspaper reports that he’s now vaccinated.

CHICAGO:
Jimmy Graham in July said he was vaccinated but that he didn’t want to be – that he felt bullied into getting the vaccine because of the league’s protocols.
Allen Robinson in June said he was undecided if he would get the vaccine, that he was still researching the issue.
Andy Dalton was on the sidelines at the final preseason game, in street clothes and not wearing a mask; that’s a strong indication that he’s vaccinated.

CINCINNATI:
Joe Mixon in mid-June tweeted that he didn’t like that the NFLPA had agreed to the league’s COVID protocols, but Mixon didn’t say whether or not he was vaccinated.

CLEVELAND:
--

DALLAS:
CeeDee Lamb tested positive on Aug. 23. The Dallas Morning News reports that Lamb has been vaccinated. Once he’s symptom free (and it’s possible there’s no symptoms to begin with) he’ll be able to return once he submits two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart.
Ezekiel Elliott in July said he’s vaccinated. He contracted COVID-19 last summer.

DENVER:
—

DETROIT:
—

GREEN BAY:
Aaron Rodgers says he’s vaccinated.

HOUSTON:
—

INDIANAPOLIS:
Carson Wentz went on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 30. Reports suggest it's for contacting rather than testing positive. Wentz was wearing a mask while standing on the sidelines in street clothes at the final preseason game, likely meaning he isn’t vaccinated.
Zach Pascal went on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 30. Reports suggest it's for contacting rather than testing positive (an indication that Pascal is unvaccinated.

JACKSONVILLE:
DJ Chark was on the sidelines in street clothes for the game against New Orleans. He wasn’t wearing a mask, almost certainly meaning he’s vaccinated.

KANSAS CITY:
—

LAS VEGAS:
Daniel Carlson spent over two weeks on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, getting activated on Aug. 17. That likely means he tested positive and needed more than 10 days to successfully complete the necessary tests.
Jalen Richard spent five days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, getting activated in early August (he likely was not vaccinated at that time).

LA CHARGERS:
—

LA RAMS:
Tutu Atwell spent 10 days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August. He likely tested positive.

MIAMI:
Mike Gesicki spent 10 days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August (an indication he tested positive). Two of Miami’s other tight ends, Cethan Carter and Adam Shaheen went on the list at the same time as Gesicki but came off after five days, indicating they were shelved by contacting rules (and thus, weren’t vaccinated at that time). Wide receiver Preston Williams also spent five days on the list at about the same time (he likely was part of that group).
Tua Tagovailoa was on the sidelines at the final preseason game, in street clothes and not wearing a mask; that’s a strong indication that he’s vaccinated.

MINNESOTA:
Kirk Cousins says he’s not vaccinated and has indicated he won’t be getting vaccinated. Cousins spent five days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August through contacting protocols.
Adam Thielen in June said he was not vaccinated. In each of the first two preseason games, he’s been spotted on the sideline wearing a mask (indicating he’s still not vaccinated).
Dalvin Cook was wearing a mask while he was on the sidelines during the Colts game. So was his backup Alexander Mattison. This likely means that these guys also aren’t vaccinated. Mattison is notable, because should Cook be ruled out by COVID rules at some point – with either a positive test or as a close contact – Mattison very likely will be shelved as well (since those two are in the same meeting room).
Justin Jefferson was standing on the sideline of the Colts game, surrounded by teammates wearing masks. Jefferson wasn’t playing in this game and wasn’t wearing a mask, which we’ll take as evidence he’s vaccinated.
Kellen Mond spent 10 days on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early August after testing positive.

NEW ENGLAND:
Cam Newton was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 23 after missing a daily test (meaning he’s not vaccinated). Newton will be eligible to return later in the week if he completes the necessary tests.
Mac Jones has declined to say whether he’s vaccinated, but he hasn’t been seen wearing a mask (making it seem that he is vaccinated but is perhaps refusing to answer as a way of supporting his fellow quarterback).

NEW ORLEANS:
Alvin Kamara was on the sidelines in street clothes for the game against Jacksonville. He wasn’t wearing a mask, meaning he’s almost certainly vaccinated.
Wil Lutz was on the sidelines in street clothes for the game against Jacksonville. He wasn’t wearing a mask, almost certainly meaning he’s vaccinated.

NY GIANTS:
Kadarius Toney tested positive in July, spending time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in July (he likely was not vaccinated at that time).

NY JETS:
Zach Wilson was on the sidelines at the final preseason game, in street clothes and not wearing a mask; that’s a strong indication that he’s vaccinated.

PHILADELPHIA:
Jalen Hurts was on the sidelines at the final preseason game, in street clothes and not wearing a mask; that’s a strong indication that he’s vaccinated.

PITTSBURGH:
Najee Harris early in camp declined to answer whether he was vaccinated.

SAN FRANCISCO:
Jauan Jennings spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he likely was not vaccinated at that time). Jennings is an obscure player but in mid-August was considered the favorite to be the team’s fifth wide receiver.

SEATTLE:
Rashaad Penny was wearing a mask at practice in mid-August, a sign that he likely was not vaccinated at that time.

TAMPA BAY:
Ryan Succop tested positive on Aug. 24, landing on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He is fully vaccinated. He’ll be able to return once he’s symptom-free and submits two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart).

TENNESSEE:
Coach Mike Vrabel tested positive on Aug. 22. He’ll be eligible to return after passing two tests 24 hours apart.
Ryan Tannehill tested positive and was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 26. He is fully vaccinated. He’ll be able to return once he’s symptom-free and submits two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart).
Backup running back Jeremy McNichols was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 24. Tight end Geoff Swaim was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Aug. 25.
WASHINGTON:
Curtis Samuel spent time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in early August (he likely was not vaccinated at that time).


—Ian Allan