Blue Jackets' Texier tests positive for COVID-19, Chinakhov misses practice
As the Blue Jackets near defenseman Zach Werenski's potential return from the COVID-19 protocol list, another player is set to join him in protocol: Alexandre Texier.
Texier fell ill with a non-COVID illness earlier this week and has missed the past two games. On Friday, Jackets coach Brad Larsen said Texier has now tested positive for COVID-19.
Werenski tested positive on Monday and was added to the list Tuesday, but his five-day quarantine clock began with the initial positive test. NHL protocols allow fully-vaccinated players who are asymptomatic to leave isolation after five days if they produce a negative test, so Werenski could potentially re-join the team Saturday.
Alongside Texier and Werenski, defenseman Gavin Bayreuther remains on the protocol list after first entering on Dec. 29. Despite the length of Bayreuther's absence, Larsen said Friday that Bayreuther is doing well.
"Symptomatic-wise, he's done really well," Larsen said. "I think he's had some mild symptoms. We've been lucky that way. I don't think any guys really had hard or tough symptoms. I think everybody's dealt with it very well. Almost itching to get back.
"You try and keep in contact, shoot a text just to see how they're doing. There's been so many now, but I think most guys felt pretty good."
Yegor Chinakhov "banged up", Elvis Merzlikins skating
Though he didn't join the full team for practice, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins skated with Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace before the full practice started. Merzlikins suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday's loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Additionally, forward Yegor Chinakhov missed Friday's practice with an undisclosed injury.
"(Chinakhov is) banged up," Larsen said. "We'll see where he's at tomorrow."
Get more Columbus Blue Jackets news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets' Texier tests positive, Chinakhov misses practice
