The New England Patriots moved Cam Newton to the Reserve/Covid-19 list on Saturday after their starting quarterback tested positive for the Coronavirus late on Friday. While he will certainly be out for Monday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Newton’s eventual return to the team depends on how his recovery process goes and whether or not he is developing any of the symptoms associated with Covid-19.
So far, however, it sounds as if the 31-year-old remains asymptomatic: according to Jay Glazer during Sunday’s pregame show on FOX, Newton is still positive but has not shown any symptoms (most commonly fever, a dry cough and tiredness)
“He is still positive. What I’m told is he’s asymptomatic,” Glazer said about the Patriots QB’s status. “It’s different to return if you have symptoms as opposed to no symptoms. What they need from him is two consecutive negative tests in order for him to return. We just don’t know when those negative tests are going to happen. If it happens later this week, he could possibly be made available next weekend.”
If Newton stays asymptomatic, a return is prohibited until 10 days have passed since his first positive test on Friday or alternatively after five days have passed since that first test — but only if he produces two consecutive negative tests separated by 24 hours. With Glazer indicating that he remains positive as of Sunday, the earliest Newton might be able to come back would be Wednesday if he a) tests negative for two straight tests and b) does not develop any symptoms in the coming days.
If the Patriots’ quarterback does demonstrate Coronavirus symptoms, on the other hand, he will not be allowed to return until at least 10 days have passed since those symptoms first appeared. Furthermore, at least 72 hours would need to pass after he last showed them.
The situation therefore remains very much fluid at this point in time. What we do know is that Newton will be out against the Chiefs, but that a return ahead of New England’s Week 5 game versus the Denver Broncos is still a theoretical possibility with him in the early stages of having contracted the virus.