San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 4 due to close contact with a teammate, Kendrick Bourne, who tested positive for the virus. Aiyuk was removed from the list two days later.
NFL teams are not permitted to comment on a player's medical status other than referring to the roster status and may not disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.
Aiyuk landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list again on November 20. This time, it took him eight days to be removed. That's because the rookie receiver had actually tested positive for the virus himself.
"This time was a little bit different, having a true positive test," Aiyuk shared on Friday. "The first thing that you think about is just your family and who you've been around, not being able to see them. And then secondly, not being able to come and do what you love every day, and be around your new family, which is my teammates.
"That was probably the hardest thing, just not being able to be around my family, at home, and away from home here, with this team. That was two weeks ago. We're back playing and focused this week on Buffalo."
Aiyuk is back practicing this week in Arizona. He and his teammates are preparing to face the Buffalo Bills in primetime on Monday night.
The No. 25 overall pick has hauled in 35 catches for 446 yards with three touchdowns while adding five carries for 61 yards and two more scores through eight games this season.