Bengals Place Trae Waynes and Fred Johnson on COVID-19 Reserve List

Two Bengals Players Test Positive For COVID-19

CINCINNATI — The Bengals placed cornerback Trae Waynes and offensive tackle Fred Johnson on the COVID-19 receive list on Friday. 

The team is on its' bye week, but players are still being tested daily for coronavirus. 

"The Bengals this morning were made aware that two of the team's players have tested positive for COVID-19," the team said in a statement. "We are following the applicable protocols and continue to prioritize the health and safety of our team. Players have not been in the facility since Wednesday. Under NFL bye week protocols players will test daily, but will not be back in the facility until next week."

Waynes is already on injured reserve. He suffered a torn pectoral muscle in training camp. Johnson was the Bengals' starting right tackle in Sunday's win over the Titans. 

If Bobby Hart (knee) can't return, then Johnson was scheduled to start in Week 10 against the Steelers.

There's a chance that he could be cleared on Saturday, Nov. 14, which is one day before Cincinnati plays the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Bengals players, coaches and other members of the organization aren't allowed to leave Cincinnati during the bye week. That's a rule the NFL put in place for all 32 teams to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"You have to be unselfish. This not a typical year," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. "If we want to make sure that we can do all the things in the second half of the season that we believe we can do, stay healthy. Guys just have to be unselfish and just shelter at home. Enjoy your time, get off your feet, watch a movie, play video games, order food, whatever it is. You just have to be unselfish. We had them in the building today and we'll have them in the building on Wednesday so we'll have a little bit of their time. Our guys have been good so far. They've done a really good job. They just have to follow through with that this week."

Both Johnson and Waynes will be re-tested. The blessing here is that the team is on a bye. 

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