Will Hernandez tests positive for COVID-19, several NY Giants offensive linemen sent home

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last SlideNext Slide

EAST RUTHERFORD – The New York Giants have placed starting left guard Will Hernandez on the COVID-19/reserve list Thursday after his positive test was revealed, a person with knowledge of the situation told NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Network.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, also confirmed that all but four of the team’s offensive linemen are in quarantine and not at the team’s training facility Thursday. In addition, two assistant coaches – outside linebackers coach and senior assistant Bret Bielema and defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson – were sent home due to contact tracing.

In total, eight players and two coaches were considered a part of Hernandez’s close contacts. This is the first time the Giants are dealing with the ramifications of a positive test since wide receiver David Sills was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list in training camp. The Giants confirmed a player had tested positive, but did not immediately identify Hernandez.

Giants coach Joe Judge said via Zoom on Thursday that the team will wear masks and face shields in practice as a precaution. They’ll also conduct their post-practice meetings virtually and the hope is that any players in quarantine and away from the facility Thursday due to close contacts can return Friday with negative tests.

Besides something unforeseen, Hernandez would not be eligible to return for a minimum of five days, which means he will be unable to play Monday night. That would break his streak of having played every snap (2,523) of all 38 games since he was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Hernandez has informed the Giants that he remains asymptomatic Thursday night, a person with knowledge of the situation told NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Network.

Following a positive test, if the player is asymptomatic, he can return once either a) 10 days have passed since the initial positive test; or b) five days have passed since the initial positive test and the player receives two consecutive negative PCR virus tests at least 24 hours apart within that five-day period.

NY Giants left guard Will Hernandez is one of the team’s players with the most to prove entering his third season in 2020.

 (Photo: Giants.com)

No one in the quarantined group is flagged as “high risk” at the moment, and those players along with Bielema and Henderson are expected to participate in the virtual meetings from home Thursday.

Following Thursday’s practice, the Giants listed left tackle Andrew Thomas, center Nick Gates, right tackle Cam Fleming, rookie guard Shane Lemieux and reserve center Spencer Pulley did not participate for non-injury reasons (quarantine).

Veteran guard Chad Slade, currently on the practice squad, is also in quarantine. He would be a strong possibility to get elevated to the active roster and be in the mix to play against Tampa Bay if available.

JOE JUDGE: 4 takeaways as NY Giants look ahead to Tom Brady, Bucs on Monday Night Football

The eight players and two coaches in quarantine were on site Thursday solely to take their mandated daily COVID-19 test and returned home. If those tests come back negative, the entire group sans Hernandez will be allowed back inside the facility to rejoin the team to continue preparation for Monday night’s game against the Buccaneers. 

The Giants had just four offensive linemen (starting right guard Kevin Zeitler, rookie tackle Matt Peart, reserve tackle Jackson Barton and rookie guard/center Kyle Murphy, who is on the practice squad) participating in practice Thursday, according to The Athletic. Veteran tight end Eric Tomlinson was also working with the group.

The Giants have been required to wear masks and face coverings inside their facility (and MetLife Stadium when applicable) for all other off-field activities since training camp.

As far as wearing masks and face coverings under their helmet during practice Thursday, Giants defensive back Logan Ryan said: “As comfortable as you would think. Not too comfortable, but this is 2020. A lot of things we have to adjust for, a lot of curveballs. I’m not complaining, got the best job in the world. I got used to it pretty quickly.”

It’s believed that Hernandez was not with the Giants’ group that included Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, among others, that was seen on video without masks in New York City last Friday night.

“I’d say 12 hours ago, I was notified that there was some issues, maybe a little longer than that. We got the list of names of players, we made adjustments, we had a couple of coaches involved,” Giants coach Joe Judge said Thursday. “We’ve been fortunate in that there’s really no high risk guys within the tracer contacts, just a precaution we take as a team. We’re optimistic to get all these guys back, so we’re operating that we’re gonna have ‘em back right now.”

There is no change in the status of the Giants-Buccaneers game for Monday night at this time, another person with knowledge of the league’s plans told NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Network. Judge said the Giants are proceeding if that will remain the case.

The Giants said they are working closely with the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer regarding the next protocol steps and will continue to do so.

Art Stapleton is the Giants beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Giants analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and sign up for our NFC East newsletter.  

Email: stapleton@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @art_stapleton