COVID Concerns Rising for NY/NJ Sports Teams
The rise of COVID cases is now taking its toll on local sports teams in the New York/Tri-State area. The Brooklyn Nets had nine players missing from action on Tuesday…
ELMONT, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 11: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils at the UBS Arena on December 11, 2021 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The rise of COVID cases is now taking its toll on local sports teams in the New York/Tri-State area.
The Brooklyn Nets had nine players missing from action on Tuesday against Toronto, a game the Nets won 131-129 in overtime. Seven of those players tested positive for COVID. That list includes: James Harden, Bruce Brown, Paul Millsap, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre’ Bembry, Jevon Carter, and James Johnson.
Kevin Durant had to play on a bum ankle, or the game would have been postponed.
According to reports all seven players are vaccinated.
“Yeah it’s unfortunate, for sure. First we concern ourselves with their health and safety,” Nets Head Coach Steve Nash said. “Fortunately for us, they’re predominantly asymptomatic. But there will be a period of time required for them to test negative and have our full group available again.”
Meanwhile, the Knicks are dealing with their own COVID outbreak. Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin and RJ Barret were all put under COVID protocols after the Knicks trip to Indiana and Toronto. Even team broadcaster and Knicks legend, Walt Clyde Fraizer has tested positive for the virus. According to the New York Post, Fraizer was also on that Knicks trip to Indiana and Toronto.
On the ice, the Islanders are dealing with their own COVID crisis. New York's leading scorer Mat Brazal tested positive and was put under COVID protocols as he missed Tuesday nights 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Earlier this year season Casey Cizikas, Adam Pelech, Ross Johnston, Kieffer Bellows, Zdeno Chara, Josh Bailey, Anders Lee and Andy Greene all tested positive in the last two weeks of November. The NHL postponed two Islanders games at the peak of the outbreak, but the Islanders lost 11 games in a row from Nov. 7 through Dec. 11 — a span that includes all of those players being out.
Finally, the New York Jets are conducting team meetings via zoom, after an outbreak of COVID cases has hit both the team and the National Football League. On Monday there were a reported 37 cases of COVID-19 around the sport. The Jets have had their own share of players hitting the COVID list in recent weeks including Denzel Mims, special teamer Justin Hardee, running back Austin Walter and defensive lineman Ronnie Blair.
