Entering Week 12 after the bye with a quarterback conundrum was expected. Unfortunately, that’s not the only roster matter at hand at the moment.
That’s because Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson is going on the reserve/COVID-19 list:
We have placed Eddie Jackson on our reserve/COVID-19 list.@Hyundai | #DaBears
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 23, 2020
Jackson, 26, is in the midst of what looks like another Pro Bowl season. He’s making plays as a deep safety, chipping in on coverage, and even contributing in run defense. The do-it-all star of the Bears secondary is living up to the big-money extension he signed in the offseason. But his next challenge is to get clearance from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
As a reminder, placement on the list isn’t necessarily confirmation of a COVID-19 positive test. Players on the list have either tested positive for COVID-19 or who have close contact with someone who tested positive with whom they are quarantining. And as Mark Grote of 670 The Score/WBBM Newsradio reports, Jackson was deemed a close contact with a person who contracted the coronavirus. So … at least it’s not a positive test. In any case, Jackson will need to clear protocol in order to return to practice and play on Sunday night. We’ll monitor his situation and update when possible.