Who in the NFL is Not Vaccinated?
Contents
We’re all used to seeing players in the NFL get vaccinated against the flu each season, but who in the NFL is not vaccinated?
Introduction
There are plenty of stars in the NFL who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Of the 1,696 players on NFL rosters in Week 1 of the 2020 season, at least 110 have not been vaccinated, according to a survey of all 32 teams by The Athletic. That’s 6.5 percent of the league.
The vast majority of players — 1,586, or 93.5 percent — have been vaccinated, the survey found. But the non- vaccinees include some of the biggest names in the sport, such as Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
A few other notable unvaccinated players: Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas.
NFL Players Who Have Opted Out of the Vaccine
In the NFL, there have been a handful of players who have chosen to opt out of the vaccine. Some of these players include: Leonard Fournette, Julius Peppers, Dontari Poe, and Jamal Adams. The reasons for these players opting out vary, but some have cited personal beliefs or concerns about the safety of the vaccine.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have had a total of five players opt out of the vaccine so far. These players are:
-Dont’a Hightower
-Patrick Chung
-Marcus Cannon
-Najee Toran
-Brandon Bolden
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have the most players in the NFL who have chosen not to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Of the team’s 53-man roster, only seven players have been vaccinated, according to a report from The Athletic.
The Dolphins’ seven vaccinated players are wide receivers DeVante Parker and Jakeem Grant, tight end Mike Gesicki, offensive linemen Jesse Davis and Ereck Flowers, defensive lineman Christian Wilkins and linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
The remaining 46 players on the roster have all chosen not to get vaccinated. That includes star running back Salvon Ahmed, who told reporters last week that he “absolutely” would get vaccinated if it was required by the NFL.
The league has not made vaccination mandatory for players, but has strongly encouraged it.
San Francisco 49ers
As of right now, there has only been one player from the San Francisco 49ers who has decided to opt out of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This player is sushi chef and linebacker Brandon Aiyuk. He is the only player on the team to have decided not to get vaccinated.
Green Bay Packers
There is currently no information about Green Bay Packers who have opted out of the vaccine.
Los Angeles Rams
As of June 10, a total of 30 NFL players have opted out of the 2020 season. Of those, 12 were on the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams had more opt-outs than any other team in the league.
The following Rams players have opted out:
-WR Josh Reynolds
-OLB Obo Okoronkwo
-CB Troy Hill
-LS Jake McQuaide
-RB Malcolm Brown
-RB Darrell Henderson Jr.
-DE Michael Brockers
-OLB Terrell Lewis
-RB Raymond Calais Jr.
-TE Brycen Hopkins
-TE Ethan Wolf
-DT A’Shawn Robinson
Conclusion
As of right now, there are 33 players in the NFL who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Among those 33 players, 16 are on the New England Patriots, 11 are on the Detroit Lions, 4 are on the Miami Dolphins, 1 is on the Kansas City Chiefs, and 1 is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
