Celtics

Jaylen Brown, two other Celtics questionable for game against the Heat due to health and safety protocols

Semi Ojeleye and Javonte Green could also miss Sunday's game against the Heat.

By Conor Roche

January 9, 2021

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Just 10 games into the season, the Celtics have already been dramatically affected by COVID-19.

Forward Jayson Tatum and center Robert Williams have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days. Center Tristan Thompson and forward Grant Williams were told to quarantine for seven days starting on Friday due to being in close contact with the virus.

Now, swingman Jaylen Brown, forward Semi Ojeleye, and guard Javonte Green were placed on the Celtics’ injury report Saturday due to health and safety protocols. All three players are questionable for Sunday’s game against the Heat.

Saturday’s injury report marks a similar situation to Thursday’s injury report. Robert Williams Grant Williams, Thompson, and guard Carsen Edwards were placed on the injury report that day and were ruled as questionable for Friday’s game against the Wizards. Only Edwards was removed from the injury report as he wasn’t deemed as a close contact for COVID-19. Robert Williams, Grant Williams, and Thompson were downgraded to out for Friday after they either tested positive for the virus or were deemed a close contact, forcing all three to start a quarantine period.

If Brown, Ojeleye, and Green all end up having to quarantine, the Celtics’ next few games could be in jeopardy. In the possible scenario that all three players are forced to quarantine, they’ll have just eight active players (including two-way players Tacko Fall and Tremont Waters) for the next three games, which is the league’s minimum requirement to play a game.

With the league’s eight active player minimum, teams could be forced to forfeit games if they don’t have eight active players. Earlier Saturday, the 76ers had just eight active players due to a reported COVID-19 test, health and safety protocols, and injuries to other players. The 76ers decided to dress forward Mike Scott, who is dealing with a knee injury, with the intention of not playing him so they could have eight active players to avoid forfeiting their game against the Nuggets.

The league has postponed a game already due to health and safety protocols. On just the second day of the season, the Rockets’ game against the Thunder was postponed because Houston couldn’t dress eight players due to health and safety protocols.