Here are updates from around the NFL:SEPTEMBER 22The Buccaneers have placed Antonio Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Given the timing, it’s unlikely that Brown will be available for this week’s game against the Rams. Brown becomes the third Bucs player to hit the reserve/COVID-19 list, following inside linebacker Kevin Minter and practice squad receiver Travis Jonsen. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 17The Saints confirmed Friday that seven coaches won't be available for this Sunday's matchup at the Carolina Panthers due to COVID protocols. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 14According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Saints have had several offensive coaches test positive for COVID-19. The impacted coaches' status for the team's Week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers could be in jeopardy. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, all five Saints assistant coaches who tested positive for COVID-19 are vaccinated. Read more here.ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero added that the Saints have thus far had six assistant coaches, a team nutritionist and a player currently on injured reserve test positive for the coronavirus. Schefter adds all of the assistants are offensive coaches. Read more here.If you want to attend a Buffalo Bills game at Highmark Stadium this season, you'll have to be vaccinated. The franchise announced Tuesday, in compliance with the Erie County Department of Health's directive, that all fans age 12 and older will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to attend Bills home games. Masks will no longer be needed for fans age 12 and older. Fans under 12 are not required to be vaccinated. However, they must wear a mask at all times while inside the stadium. At the end of their announcement, the Bills reiterate that negative COVID-19 test results won't be accepted for entry and that there will be no exceptions to the policy. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 11Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane was asked by John Kryk of the Toronto Sun whether it's a competitive disadvantage not to have a fully vaccinated roster. He said it is, especially when going up against a team that is fully vaccinated. Read more here.The Kansas City Chiefs activated star safety Tyrann Mathieu from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, making him eligible to play in the team's season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. However, he is listed as questionable. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 10The Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly reached 100% vaccination, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Las Vegas becomes the third team in the NFL to reach 100% vaccination, joining the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Read more here.Cam Newton missed several valuable days of practice time leading up to New England’s third and final preseason game after what the team called a “misunderstanding” with COVID protocols. In his “Freaky Friday” sit-down chat with his father, Newton said he believes the Patriots were going to release him even if he didn’t miss that time but that it likely made their decision easier. As for the so-called misunderstanding, Newton said he went to Atlanta for a consult related to the foot surgery he had two years ago. He felt “bamboozled” after being told he had to sit out when the Patriots led him to believe he did everything right. Newton said the Patriots even encouraged the trip and told him it was a “great idea.” Read more here.Jets slot receiver Jamison Crowder, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, has been ruled out for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. Read more here.Tyrann Mathieu has been on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list since Sept. 1 after he reportedly tested positive for the virus. Per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Mathieu was once again not spotted at practice Friday. This implies the 29-year-old is, at best, questionable for Sunday's home matchup. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 9Ravens QB Lamar Jackson once again declined to answer if he's been vaccinated against COVID-19. "I want to keep that between me and my family and the doctors. That’s all," Jackson answered, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Jackson reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 this summer for the second time in less than a full year. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 8NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills told ESPN's Kevin Seifert on Wednesday that 93.5% of players and over 99% of other football-related staff members have received at least one vaccine shot. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 7Seattle confirmed Tuesday that fans 12 years of age or older must be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or show proof of a negative coronavirus test obtained within 72 hours before kickoff to attend games held at Lumen Field this season. Individuals at least two weeks removed from a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are fully vaccinated in the eyes of the Seahawks. Partially vaccinated patrons must show proof of a negative virus test to enter the stadium. Children under the age of 12 don't need to test negative to attend Seahawks games. Additionally, all individuals inside the stadium, regardless of vaccination status, must wear approved face coverings except while actively eating or drinking. Read more here.During interviews and in pieces shared on the official website for the NFL Players Association, NFLPA president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter has urged for teams to test all players daily. Tretter did so again via a post published Tuesday ahead of the start of the regular season on Thursday night. "We have been warned by our experts that, because of our current testing cadence, we are at more risk of missed games this season than last season," Tretter said. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 6The Miami Dolphins placed starting left tackle Austin Jackson and tight end Adam Shaheen on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This is Shaheen's second stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list since the start of training camp. He was previously a close contact of co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach George Godsey, who tested positive earlier this summer. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 4Although Tom Brady now is vaccinated against COVID-19, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback confirmed in an interview with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that he contracted the deadly virus shortly after the team's Super Bowl parade in February. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 3Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz, who still is not vaccinated, told reporters after practice that weighing the decision to receive the shot keeps him up at night. Although Wentz did not commit to getting the vaccine, he said "things could change in the next coming weeks." He added: "Who knows? Who knows where this world's going? Who knows where the protocol's going, if that'll change. I'm not going to act like I'm an expert on a vaccine or a virus, so that's just where we're at." Read more here.Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Denzel Perryman told reporters that he doesn't enjoy feeling like an outcast in the team's facility because he is unvaccinated. "For the record, I am thinking about the vaccination now," Perryman said, according to Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I ain't gonna lie. Too many restrictions going on. Can't even eat with my fellow brothers. I don't like being an outcast." Read more here.New York Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder Jamison Crowder tested positive for COVID-19, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. His status for Week 1 is uncertain. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 2Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said Thursday that the entire organization is vaccinated against COVID-19, making them one of the first teams in the NFL to reach that mark, per ESPN. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 1Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer said he and general manager Trent Baalke took a player's vaccination status into consideration when making final roster cuts. "Everyone was considered," Meyer said, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "That was part of the [considerations such as] production, let's start talking about this, and also is he vaccinated or not? Can I say that that was a decision-maker? It was certainly in consideration." NFL Players Association assistant executive director for external affairs George Atallah told ESPN that Meyer's comments "have led us to open an investigation." It's unclear what the consequences might be. Read more here.On Wednesday, the Jaguars released a statement that insisted no player was released based on vaccination status alone. However, the team admitted that “availability is one of the many factors taken into account when making roster decisions.” Read more here.New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick met with the media Wednesday for the first time since releasing Cam Newton and naming rookie quarterback Mac Jones QB1. There was speculation that Newton's vaccination status played a role in his release. Belichick denied the rumors, adding that plenty of vaccinated players and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 this summer. Read more here.Colts general manager Chris Ballard thinks everyone out to get vaccinated against COVID-19. He said, "There’s consequences to not being vaccinated. Do I think everybody should be vaccinated? Absolutely," via ESPN's Mike Wells. Read more here.AUGUST 31Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel appears to be in good spirits and ready to get back to work after being away from the team due to COVID-19. Vrabel missed the Titans' preseason finale against the Chicago Bears after he tested positive for COVID-19 one week prior. Wide receivers coach Rob Moore, offensive line assistant Jason Houghtaling and rookie wide receiver Racey McMath also missed Sunday's game because of the league's health and safety protocols. Read more here.AUGUST 28Two days after being fined by the NFL for violating COVID-19 protocols, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie received his first COVID-19 vaccine shot. McKenzie shared a photo of his vaccine card to his Instagram story on Saturday, writing, "For the greater good." He was fined $14,650 on Thursday for repeatedly not wearing a mask at the Bills facility. Read more here.AUGUST 26Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley, a vocal opponent of the COVID-19 vaccine, has been in the NFL’s health and safety protocols after a staff member tested positive and he was deemed a close contact. Beasley responded to his situation on Thursday, and was critical of the stipulations that are keeping him sidelined. Responding to fellow wideout Isaiah McKenzie, who was cited by the league for not wearing a mask around the Bills’ facility, Beasley questioned why masks were necessary in the first place based on his specific incident. Read more here.NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Thursday that 25 players had been fined for violations of mask-wearing or refusal to wear a tracking device. Approximately 120 players have received warnings as well. Read more here.Aaron Rodgers told reporters Thursday he is vaccinated against the coronavirus. "It's a personal decision. It's an interesting issue," Rodgers explained while adding he won't criticize teammates who still haven't gotten one of the available vaccines. Read more here.On a conference call Thursday, the NFL’s general counsel said that they have proposed weekly testing of vaccinated players to the players’ union. Read more here.Per Charean Williams of PFT, NFL deputy general counsel Larry Ferazani said the league once proposed mandatory vaccines. Read more here.AUGUST 24Per Mark Norris of Fox 4 News, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones left little doubt during his weekly radio appearance on Dallas' 105.3 The Fan that he feels strongly about employees and other individuals getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, saying that it's part of the "common good." Read more here.AUGUST 23The Vikings had an epidemiologist speak with players Monday about the safety of the vaccines to encourage unvaccinated individuals to get their shots ahead of the regular-season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 12. "I just care about these players and I care about their families," Mike Zimmer told reporters. "That’s my main reason. If they miss a game because they get COVID, so be it. But I don’t want them to get sick and I don’t want their families to get sick and their kids to get sick or my grandkids to get sick." Zimmer admitted, however, that he's not sure Dr. Michael Osterholm was able to change the minds of those who haven't yet been vaccinated. It's believed quarterback Kirk Cousins is among Minnesota players who haven't gotten a shot. Read more here.AUGUST 19The Atlanta Falcons made headlines on Monday by announcing they had become the first NFL team to have all players vaccinated against COVID-19. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio offered an update on that story Thursday. According to Florio, the Falcons cut two unvaccinated players as part of their latest roster trimming, which resulted in the club reaching the 100% vaccination rate. Read more here.AUGUST 17The Las Vegas Raiders made headlines Monday by becoming the league's first team to require fans show proof of vaccination to attend games. New York Giants co-owner John Mara admitted Tuesday he wishes all personnel required for completing games this season would be vaccinated against COVID-19. Mara added the Giants aren't following in the footsteps of the Raiders and requiring fans prove they are vaccinated to attend home games, but he didn't entirely rule the notion out. Read more here.Add the Carolina Panthers to the growing list of NFL teams requiring fans to wear proper face coverings in indoor areas of stadiums. Read more here.
Tom Brady and the Bucs opened defense of Super Bowl crown with a 31-29 win against the Cowboys that had good fortune with some championship grit.In a phrase it was this: Buc-Ugly. 
Dak Prescott nearly put the Cowboys over the top against the Buccaneers, and the quarterback had a pointed message for Tom Brady afterward.He had just thrown for 403 yards and three touchdowns at Raymond James Stadium, his Cowboys falling 31-29 to the Buccaneers in a match more competitive than many expected. 
More than 93% of NFL players have had at least one shot of COVID-19 vaccine, including the 50% who were unvaccinated at start of training camp.As President Joe Biden issues new directives to try and boost the country’s vaccination rate and end the COVID-19 pandemic, 93.5 percent of NFL players have had at least one shot. The number is even better for coaches and staff, at 99-plus percent. 
