First NFL player to miss game because of COVID-19 test

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The NFL's efforts to safely play a season of football during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have been largely successful, but for the first time this season, a player will miss a game because of a COVID-19 test.

Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell was placed on the league's reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday after the Falcons received a positive test result on Saturday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Terrell, a rookie, was the Falcons' first-round pick this season.

The league administers COVID-19 tests to players and essential employees daily throughout the week.

Terrell's positive test is an anomaly in what has been a widely successful effort from the NFL and the NFL Players Association so far this year.

The NFL and the NFLPA released data earlier this week from tests between Sept. 13 and Sept. 19. During that span the league administered 14,074 tests to 2,438 players, and zero tests came back positive.

The Eagles placed three players on the reserve/COVID-19 list during training camp: Lane Johnson, Nate Gerry, and Jordan Mailata. Johnson acknowledged in a social media post that he tested positive for COVID-19. Gerry confirmed he also tested positive for COVID-19.

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