Steelers place 2nd-year CB Justin Layne on reserve/covid-19 list

Second-year cornerback Justin Layne has become the second Pittsburgh Steelers player to be placed on the reserve/covid-19 list.

Layne joins former XFL cornerback Arrion Springs on the list. Springs was placed on the list Monday.

Layne, 22, was one of the team’s third-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, going to the Steelers with the No. 83 overall selection.

As a rookie, Layne appeared in 10 games. He appeared in just two of the first eight games, then played every game in the second half of the season, exclusively on special teams.

Layne was scheduled to enter this training camp trying to win a backup spot at cornerback behind starters Joe Haden and Steve Nelson.

Players began reporting to training camp this week for coronavirus testing and physicals.

In an agreement between the NFL and its players’ association, players can be added to the list after testing positive for the coronavirus or after undergoing quarantine as a result of having been in close contact with an infected person.

Teams are not permitted to disclose the reason that player has been added to the list, per NFL policy.

Players are tested for covid-19 on a daily basis for the first two weeks of camp. If the percent of players testing positive is 5 or lower, players will be tested on an every-other-day basis.

If a player tests positive and is asymptomatic, he can return to his team’s facility in 10 days or come back after receiving two consecutive negative tests within five days of the positive test.

Players testing positive can return after at least 10 days have passed since the first sign of symptoms and at least 72 hours have passed since they last experienced symptoms.

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