BUFFALO (N.Y.) -- Friday's activation by the Buffalo Bills of wide receiver Cole Beasley, along with Vernon Butler, Gabriel Davis and Star Lotulelei, was made possible by the reserve/COVID-19 roster.
All four players tested negative for the COVID-19 virus. However, they were added to the NFL's contact list as close friends of a member of the vaccinated training staff who tested positive on Tuesday morning. Retroactive to their exposure, each player was away for five days.
Beasley said that he was also fined $16,650 because he failed to wear a mask while he was walking around the facility. Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie was also penalized for failing to wear a mask in the facility as required by the NFL policy.
According to COVID-19 league protocols, unvaccinated players must be quarantined for five days if they have close contacts with anyone who has tested positive for the virus. Beasley was a vocal opponent of the protocols, particularly the frequency of testing.
Beasley stated, "It is common sense that if unvaxxed players are tested less often, the likelihood of a person being pulled for COVID drops drastically." "I'll end by saying that we all want safety when it comes to player safety."
Beasley, who threw for 967 yards and 82 catches in 2020 was Bills' second-leading receiving receiver. Both career highs. During his rookie season, Davis' seven receiving touchdowns were second on the team. In 2021, Butler will enter his second season with Bills. Lotulelei will enter his fourth. However, Lotulelei opted out of 2020 due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
