Boise State athletics announces new COVID-19 cases; Vander Esch on track for return
The Boise State athletic department has conducted 400 COVID-19 tests among athletes, coaches and staff members and added 29 positive cases since its last testing update on Sept. 15, according to the university.
Since early June, the department has conducted 1,592 tests and discovered 77 positive cases. Boise State announced 48 positive cases on Sept. 15.
The department’s rate of positive cases is on the rise as the Broncos prepare for their football season opener Oct. 24 against Utah State. In early July, Boise State announced it had conducted 533 tests with 22 positives (4.1%). The latest numbers show the positivity rate at 7.3%.
Athletes began returning to campus for voluntary workouts during the first week of June, and less than a week later, the university announced multiple athletes tested positive for the virus but declined to identify them or the sport they played.
Football players began 12 hours a week of workouts in late July, but since fall practice began on Sept. 26, they’re allowed to take part in organized team activities for up to 20 hours a week.
In late August, Boise State announced it planned to test at least 200 athletes a week, and on Sept. 1, the university said it had tested more than 600 members of the athletic department with 41 positive cases since June.
Testing will become more frequent in the coming weeks thanks to Mountain West protocols, which require players, coaches and trainers to be tested three times a week during the season.
Vander Esch on track for Nov. return
Former Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch looks like he’s on track to return to the field for the Dallas Cowboys by early November.
Vander Esch suffered a broken collarbone during the Cowboys’ season opener on Sept. 13 and has missed the past three games. He was placed on injured reserve and expected to miss six to eight weeks.
On Wednesday, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said the Riggins native is still three to five weeks away from a full return, but he’s expected to begin non-contact rehab this week.
Last season, Vander Esch missed seven games with a bulging disk, which required neck surgery in January.
This story was originally published October 7, 2020 at 3:04 PM.
