Aaron Rodgers tests positive for COVID-19

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.

Rodgers, who the NFL Network reports is considered unvaccinated by the league, will miss the Packers’ Sunday game against the Kansas City Chiefs, with backup quarterback Jordan Love making his first career start. 

Rodgers informed teammates a few minutes ago of his positive test. Jordan Love will get his first NFL start against Patrick Mahomes on Sunday in Kansas City. https://t.co/VFPucQaT4S

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 3, 2021

Packers backup quarterback Kurt Benkert had earlier tested positive for the virus and was placed on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list. 

Benkert confirmed his positive test in a tweet on Tuesday. 

When you get Covid the same week that @CallofDuty Vanguard releases. pic.twitter.com/AyCbYlzWR7

— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) November 2, 2021

Rodgers, the NFL’s reigning MVP, had told reporters in August that he was “immunized” when asked about his vaccination status. 

“You know, there’s a lot of conversation around it, around the league, and a lot of guys who have made statements and not made statements, owners who have made statements,” Rodgers said at the time. 

“There’s guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys. There are guys that’ve been vaccinated that have contracted COVID. It’s an interesting issue that I think we’re going to see played out the entire season,” he added. 

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss this Sunday’s game versus the Chiefs.

There’s some reporting today that Rodgers is not vaccinated. Here’s what he said on 8/26/21: “Yeah, I’ve been immunized.” pic.twitter.com/eNunTc2DWe

— The Recount (@therecount) November 3, 2021

ESPN reports that the quarterback unsuccessfully petitioned the NFL to have a treatment he underwent over the summer considered the same as coronavirus vaccination.

Under the league’s COVID-19 protocols, if Rodgers was unvaccinated, he would have to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days and could return to the team on Nov. 13, at the earliest, if he has not shown any symptoms. 

Packers wide receivers Devante Adams and Allen Lazard missed last week’s contest against the Arizona Cardinals due to testing positive for COVID-19, ESPN noted. 

The NFL’s chief medical officer, Allen Sills, told The Washington Post last week that 94 percent of players are vaccinated against the virus.