The New England Patriots currently have four players on their Reserve/Covid-19 list: quarterback Cam Newton was placed there after his positive Coronavirus test on October 2, with cornerback Stephon Gilmore and defensive tackles Bill Murray and Byron Cowart following him since. While it remains to be seen when the four men will return, one is already “ready to be back in action” — at least according to a social media post.
Gilmore shared the message to his followers on Monday morning, and while it is no confirmation of an eventual return to the field it does have a positive tone to it and hints at a return sooner rather than later.
The NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year was placed on the Covid-19 list after testing positive last Tuesday. Under the league’s revised guidelines, he would be allowed off the list if he remains asymptomatic — which he was, per himself — and produces two negative tests with 24 hours in between. If that has indeed happened, and again, there is no confirmation yet, he could rejoin his teammates once they return on Wednesday.
That day, the Patriots will begin on-field preparation for their game against the Denver Broncos. That contest would originally have been played tonight, but the aforementioned Byron Cowart testing positive for the virus late on Saturday has forced the NFL to adjust its schedule and postpone the game to next week. New England, meanwhile, has a bye right now.