ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills wide receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis, defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Vernon Butler are officially on the NFL's Reserve/COVID list and are a part of a five-day reentry process to team facilities because of close contact with a staff member who tested positive for COVID-19.
Between the additions to the COVID list and players being removed from the team facilities as a precaution, six players, who all tested negative for the virus before Tuesday afternoon's practice - were involved in the process.
Linebackers Matt Milano and AJ Klein were also sent home before practice on Tuesday, but general manager Brandon Beane said their removal was out of an abundance of caution. Milano and Klein will return to practice on Wednesday.
Butler did practice on Tuesday before the NFL's full interview process with the team concluded he was also in close contact with the staff member who tested positive.
Per NFL COVID-19 protocols, players who are unvaccinated and are in close contact with someone who tests positive for the virus must undergo a five-day reentry process to the team.
Beasley has publicly stated his refusal to take the vaccine and has been outspoken about the NFL's rules for unvaccinated players.
Beane said the staff member who tested positive was vaccinated, and therefore not required to undergo daily testing, which unvaccinated players are required to do.
Beane admitted the team has struggled to convince unvaccinated players to get the shot since training camp began, when the expanded roster was vaccinated just above 80 percent, according to Beane.
"I don't know if we're still above that 80 percent threshold... it may be slightly below it," Beane said after the team made more cuts on Tuesday.
"We had a push right as camp started to get us over that 80 number, and it kind of has leveled off since then."
