Is Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff vaccinated against COVID-19?

Lions quarterback Jared Goff warms up before the game against the Cardinals on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Ford Field.Lions ArizSyndication Detroit Free Press
Lions quarterback Jared Goff warms up before the game against the Cardinals on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Ford Field.Lions ArizSyndication Detroit Free Press

With the NFL’s revised COVID protocols making it easier to return quickly for those players, is Lions quarterback Jared Goff vaccinated?

Off the high of Sunday’s 30-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday after a positive test result.

The NFL has changed their virus protocols, allowing vaccinated players to return faster based on a number of criteria. So that opens the door for Goff to be taken off the list and play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. If he’s the current definition of fully vaccinated, of course.

So..

Is Jared Goff vaccinated?

Goff made his regular appearance on 97.1 The Ticket’s Karsch & Anderson Show Tuesday morning. Naturally, he talked about his situation.

“I’m feeling good,” Goff said Tuesday on the Karsch & Anderson Show. “It’s pretty much a mild cold. I’m feeling fine.”

Goff said he had some symptoms “pop up” Sunday night after the win over the Cardinals. And, as he self-reported said symptoms, “Sure enough, I was positive.”

If he’s vaccinated, Goff has to be asymptomatic and produce a certain viral load to be cleared. While not necessarily drawing a parallel and with a joking tone, he mentioned how he was part of the Lions’ flu outbreak a couple weeks ago but was able to play.

“I feel totally fine. It is interesting, though. I had the flu a couple weeks ago and they didn’t have a problem with me playing, but I’m not allowed to play with this,” said Goff. “I tested flu positive and I was in the building the next day and there was no issue.”

Whereas two other quarterbacks in the NFC North are (or were, at least) notably unvaccinated against COVID-19, The Detroit Free Press has confirmed Goff is indeed vaccinated. So the revised and expedited protocols do apply to him, making the odds he’ll be able to play Sunday way better. Even if he wasn’t ready to declare he will play against the Falcons at this early stage.

“I really don’t know.” ’ll test every day and we’ll find out,” he (Goff) said. “If I happen to test negative in the next couple days, then I’m sure there’s a chance, but I don’t know.”

Schedule