The Buffalo Bills have been without their starting left tackle for the entirety training camp. Dion Dawkins was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list upon arrival at One Bills Drive along with fellow offensive lineman Ike Boettger. Boettger returned almost a week ago now but Dawkins has been absent.
On Monday, Dawkins made his first sideline appearance of camp. Previously, he hadn’t been on the field. In order for him to be at the facility, he has passed through the majority of the COVID-19 protocols and should be close to being back on the field.
Boettger was on the sidelines one day and on the field the next, so Dawkins could see action as soon as Tuesday.
The last step before players can return to practice once they’ve cleared the coronavirus protocols is a heart test. The same test discovered TE Tommy Sweeney’s myocarditis last season. His inflammation of the heart kept him out for the rest of the season and is a side effect of viral infection (such as COVID-19) for some individuals.