COSTA MESA (CNS) - A Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman has tested positive for COVID-19 and begun quarantining, the team announced Thursday.
Ryan Groy, 30, was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday afternoon.
According to the team, news of the positive test was received late Wednesday night and the player was immediately notified and "the contact tracing process was initiated."
"Hoag Performance Center remains open, and the team will follow its normal practice and meeting schedule," according to the team. "All meetings will be held virtually. We continue to operate in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance."
Players and staffers identified as close contacts will not report Thursday and instead will participate in meetings remotely, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The 6-foot, 5-inch, 320-pound Groy has been the Chargers' starting right guard the past three games.
Groy was among 26 players released Sept. 5 as the Chargers reduced their roster to the 53-player regular-season limit by the day's 1 p.m. deadline and signed to the practice squad the following day. He was added to the team's active roster for the Sept. 13 season opener but did not play in the 16-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He moved back to the practice squad, but was quickly re-signed to the active roster Sept. 26, making his 2020 debut the following day as a reserve in the 21-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers. He became a starter the next game.
Groy is in his seventh season in the NFL. He began his career in 2014 by playing four games with the Chicago Bears, starting three. He played with the Buffalo Bills from 2015-18, playing 51 games, starting 14.
Groy signed with the Chargers Oct. 9, 2019, playing nine games as a reserve in 2019.
There was no immediate word on whether the positive test would impact the Chargers' game Sunday against the Broncos in Denver.
Broncos offensive line coach Mike Munchak is in the NFL's COVID-19 protocol system and missed Wednesday's practice, coach Vic Fangio confirmed.
The announcement of the positive test was the third among players on Los Angeles professional teams in three days.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was removed from Game 6 of the World Series Tuesday following a positive coronavirus test. The Los Angeles Football Club of Major League Soccer announced Wednesday one of its players, whose name was not released, had tested positive, forcing him to miss that night's 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn tested positive for the coronavirus before the NFL season began, but he has since recovered.
