Jacksonville Jaguars place Gardner Minshew on reserve/COVID-19 list

By David Levin | Aug 2, 2020

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Gardner Minshew II of Jacksonville Jaguars looks on during the NFL game between Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on November 03, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) /

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced their starting quarterback Gardner Minshew has been placed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday.

This is the new norm for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Per the team’s website, quarterback Gardner Minshew and four other players were placed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday.

"“The reserve/COVID-19 list is a new reserve category created by the NFL for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons,” John Oehser of Jaguars.com wrote."

The move, however, is one of yet another situation where there is a growing number of prominent NFL players who have been named with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jaguars have also dealt with two defensive players – Al Woods and Lerentee McCray – who have decided to opt-out of playing this coming season due to concerns over the spread of the virus.

Minshew’s name is the biggest one yet who has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 reserve here in Jacksonville. He is expected to be the starting quarterback Week 1 of the NFL season when the Jaguars take on the Indianapolis Colts at home.

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And with the quarterback situation in Jacksonville considered one of the worst in the league, any time away from the field by Minshew is detrimental to the development of the offense under coordinator Jay Gruden.

"“Added along with Minshew Sunday afternoon: running back Ryquell Armstead, tight end Charles Jones, wide receiver Michael Walker, and safety Andrew Wingard,” Oehser wrote, “Also on the list as of Sunday afternoon were rookie offensive lineman Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms, first-year offensive lineman Ryan Pope and cornerback Parry Nickerson.”"

Armstead, who was the primary backup last season to Leonard Fournette as a rookie last season, is expected to fill the same role again this season. The offensive game plan installed by Gruden this offseason is more passing-dominant, which means both running backs could see their production drop in 2020.

While the team announced that the players including Gardner Minshew had been placed on the reserve list, their statuses have not been revealed.

"“The reserve/COVID-19 list is a new reserve category created by the NFL for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons,” Oehser explains.“Clubs are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status. Clubs may not disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.”"

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