Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley won’t play in Sunday’s critical divisional game against the New England Patriots, which will likely determine the AFC East championship.

Beasley tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday and isn’t vaccinated. The NFL’s protocols require Beasley to quarantine for 10 days, which makes it impossible for him to return in time to play on Sunday.

In a statement posted to his Instagram account on Tuesday night, Beasley said he’s doing “fine” and experiencing only mild symptoms. He said that it won’t be Covid keeping him from playing Sunday.

“Just to be clear Covid is not keeping me out of this game. The rules are,” Beasley said. “Vaxxed players are playing with Covid every week now because they don’t test.”

The NFL updated its protocols last week. Now vaccinated players aren’t tested daily but instead are tested in a random cadence “based on position group and staff cohorts.” Theoretically, asymptomatic players can suit up on game day and still play. That’s the main issue Beasley is taking with the league.

Bills left guard Jon Feliciano is vaccinated and tested positive for Covid on Sunday right before Buffalo’s game against the Carolina Panthers. He had to go to the emergency room because of the intense symptoms and received monoclonal antibodies. He said on Twitter that the treatment helped.

Beasley questioned how Feliciano was treated just because he’s vaccinated.

“One of my vaxxed teammates is in the hospital missing games,” he said in his statement. “I’m sure he didn’t get this same energy. Thank you for those who support. Everyone else, if you don’t get what’s happening then there is nothing anybody can do for you.”

Bills receiver Isaiah McKenzie — who was benched for two games after a costly fumble against the Indianapolis Colts — could be in line to play in place of Beasley against the Patriots. Buffalo made second-year receiver Isaiah Hodgins, who was drafted in the 6th round last year, one of their protected practice squad players this week. He could get elevated later in the week and offer a bigger option in the slot. Veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders missed last week’s game with a knee injury. If he can get healthy and return, he could also be an option to play out of the slot in place of Beasley.

Feliciano spent

time in ER due to COVID-19

Just hours before kickoff against the Carolina Panthers, the Buffalo Bills announced that Jon Feliciano was added to the Reserve/Covid-19 list.

Heading into the matchup, there was a belief that Feliciano would be starting at guard for the first time since the Bills’ Halloween win over the Miami Dolphins. Instead, the guard found himself in the emergency room.

It’s unknown how long Feliciano was in the ER, but he was tweeting during Buffalo’s matchup against the Panthers and later went on to tweet postgame how difficult the 2021 season has been for him to date.

It’s been a rough freaking season,” Feliciano tweeted. “But I’m built for it.”

Feliciano shared that he received monoclonal antibodies on Tuesday and felt better following the treatment.

Feliciano is the second Bills player that revealed he needed to go to the hospital due to Covid-19 this season. Left tackle Dion Dawkins was hospitalized for four days this summer.

Both players are currently on the team’s Reserve/Covid-19 list along with Cole Beasley, Tyrel Dodson and A.J. Epenesa.