Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew is back with the team, just days after becoming the second starting quarterback to land on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list.
As teams prepare for training camp and the 2020 NFL season, players have been tested daily for the coronavirus with teams taking extra precautions to avoid any outbreaks. After a few days away from the team, Minshew is now set to rejoin his teammates.
Garner Minshew activated off COVID-19 reserve list
The NFL created the COVID-19 reserve list this year for teams to place players who either test positive for the virus or come in close contact with a carrier of the virus. While organizations aren’t allowed to disclose why a player lands on the list, the reasoning seems clear for Minshew.
If the 24-year-old quarterback came in contact with someone who contracted the coronavirus, he would just need to test negative and show no symptoms of COVID-19. As a result, given how quickly he was activated, it’s likely that Minshew avoided contracting the virus.
The Jaguars will be dependent on Minshew this season heading into a critical year. The team lacks a lot of talent and will be relying on the second-year quarterback to build off his strong rookie season, when he threw for 3,271 yards with a 21-6 TD-INT ratio.
If Minshew struggles this year and the Jaguars fall to the bottom of the standings, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Jacksonville uses its top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on a quarterback.