The Los Angeles Chargers are attempting to contain a COVID-19 outbreak in their locker room. After putting Keenan Allen on the COVID-19 reserve list earlier in the week, the Chargers added wide receiver Mike Williams and cornerback Chris Harris, Jr to the list on Wednesday.
Williams caught 55 passes for 854 yards and seven touchdowns for the Chargers this season. Harris, one of the starting cornerbacks, has one interception and 26 tackles this season.
Williams and Harris aren’t vaccinated, and neither tested positive for COVID, but the Chargers considered them both close contacts of Allen.
Unvaccinated close contacts can return to action in five days, according to the NFL’s protocol, if they test negative for five days in a row. Both Williams and Harris went into quarantine on Monday, so they could be eligible to return on Saturday. The Chargers host the New York Giants on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Allen is vaccinated, so he could return to practice later this week if he tests negative twice within a 24-hour period. If Allen or Williams is unable to return, expect rookie Joshua Palmer and second-year payer Jalen Guyton to see increased playing time.
In November, the Chargers had an outbreak on their defensive line. Joey Bosa, Jerry Tillery, Linval Joseph, and Christian Covington were all flagged and placed on the COVID reserve list. Joseph missed two games while Covington and Tillery missed one game each. Bosa didn’t miss any time.
Line Move: Giants/Chargers
Despite the COVID incidents and the fact that the Chargers (7-5) could be without two of their top wideouts, the Bolts remain -10 consensus favorites over the Giants (4-8).
Oddsmakers across the board opened the Giants/Chargers game with the Chargers as -7.5 favorites, but the line moved on news that the Giants don’t know who their starting quarterback will be when they take the field at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Starting quarterback Daniel Jones has a neck injury and backup Mike Glennon has been in concussion protocol since Sunday. The G-Men could start Jake Fromm, whom they recently signed off the Buffalo Bills practice squad.
The total opened at 46.5, but it’s been bet down to 43. It’s currently 42.5 at the Circa Casino in Las Vegas. The Giants are 3-8-1 in hitting the over this season. Both the Chargers and Giants are 6-6 ATS this season.