ASHBURN (Va.) -- Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team coach, made a plea for vaccinations over the weekend. A source confirmed that 84% of the team's players have received at least one shot.Washington had just 70% coverage as of Saturday. It then had to add two more players to the reserve/COVID-19 roster, including right-handed guard Brandon Scherff. Rivera informed the team that if they had not been vaccinated five days before the season opener, it would have to repeat that practice. Washington's second game is on a Thursday so that would mean two losses for the team.Washington scheduled appointments on Sunday for anyone who wanted to get vaccinated. Some took advantage.Rivera stated, "It was an important step in the right direction and we're continuing our trend up."Washington's coach expressed frustration at his team's lower vaccination rates. The team had been vaccinated at around 60% before camp.They had the 31st league rate on Saturday. This is believed to be 70%. This would have put them 19 percentage points below the league average. They are now six points behind the league average for players who receive at least one shot.Rivera, who claimed he was immunodeficient following his battle with cancer last autumn, met with players multiple times to discuss their hesitancy about the shot, but has always maintained that he will not force anyone to get it. Rivera also stated that some players weren't going to change their stance because they were determined.Washington only had two players on the COVID-19 roster last season.Antonio Gandy Golden, a receiver, has been infected with the virus. He said that he had just received the shot, despite having antibodies from his spring 2020 bout.Gandy-Golden stated, "I wouldn’t say anything changed mine mind too drastically." "Just being part of the team and seeing everyone that didn't have [some restrictions] any longer. It was obvious that I already had it so I was one of those people who had it. It is unlikely that I will get it again. I'm not sure if it will happen again. But then I began to read and noticed Coach bringing in these experts to speak to us. It's obvious that they put a lot into it. They're doing it, and they aren't affected.The following restrictions apply to players who have not been vaccinated: They cannot travel from the team hotel and they can't eat with their teammates in the cafeteria.Washington activated Cornelius Lucas, an offensive tackle, from the reserve/COVID-19 roster on Tuesday. He was there for five days. After spending five days on the list, defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis was now in uniform and could not take part in group activities.Rivera stated that he wouldn't use a player’s status in vaccination as an excuse to cut or keep him.Rivera stated that "we know that we're going have guys coming into regular season who aren't vaccinated." Rivera said that if that is the case, we will take the best player we feel gives us the best chance of winning. They also ensure they know that the protocols are true and what they'll have them do. This includes the masking, social distancing, and all the rest. They will have to do it, including the contact tracing and all that. This is how it will be. If you're vaccinated, great. If you aren't, make sure you follow the protocol to the letter. The league issued its penalties. These are the rules we'll be following.USA Today reported the improved vaccination rates for the first time.
