Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams tests positive for COVID-19, could miss key game vs. Cardinals

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers’ short week just got a lot more difficult.

With just three days to prepare for a Thursday night game at the 7-0 Arizona Cardinals, the Packers learned that wide receiver Davante Adams and defensive coordinator Joe Barry likely won’t be attending the game because of COVID-19-related issues.

About six hours after news of Barry testing positive emerged, the Packers announced that Adams was being played on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Adams has said publicly that he has been vaccinated, so the only way for him to land on the list is to test positive.

Those who test positive can return to action after passing two consecutive tests 24 hours apart provided they have no symptoms. Based on previous cases with the Packers and the NFL, it seems unlikely that either Adams or Barry will be available Thursday night.

Losing Adams would be a huge blow for the 6-1 Packers, who are riding a six-game winning streak heading into their toughest game of the season.

Adams ranks tied for second in the NFL with 52 receptions, third in receiving yards with 744 and second in receiving first downs. He has accounted for one-third of the team's receptions this year and was on pace for the best season of his career.

The Packers only have a handful of players who are not vaccinated, but if any of those were deemed close contacts to either Barry or Adams, they would be quarantined for a minimum of five days even if they test negative.

LaFleur said in his afternoon news conference Monday, before Adams was added to the COVID-19 list, that they were awaiting more information on possible positive tests. Players who are vaccinated get tested once a week and players who aren't vaccinated get tested every day.

However, LaFleur said the NFL had placed the Packers in "advanced protocol," which means the coaches were meeting virtually and that when the players return to work Tuesday, they will be required to wear masks and social distance.

Everyone in the organization will be tested daily as long as they are in the protocol.

Barry will be able to take part in planning for the game through video conferencing and given that LaFleur only has walk-through type practices planned for this week, he won’t miss much on-field time.

However, LaFleur will have to appoint someone to call plays Thursday night.

The most logical person is passing game coordinator Jerry Gray, who was a defensive coordinator with Buffalo (2001-05) and Tennessee (2011-13) and has plenty of experience calling plays. Gray was one of the coaches LaFleur interviewed for the coordinator’s position before hiring Barry this past offseason.

Barry is the second Packers assistant coach to test positive this year, joining defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, who missed a week of practice and the Detroit game in Week 2. The Packers have had two players — nose tackle Tyler Lancaster and receiver Malik Taylor — test positive during the regular season.

Lancaster has since returned and Taylor may return this week.

Also Monday, Chicago Bears coach Mike Nagy announced that he has tested positive for COVID. The Packers played the Bears on Oct. 17 at Soldier Field.

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers WR, lands on COVID-19 list