The NFL’s differing rules surrounding players that have received the COVID-19 vaccine has been a hot topic around the league this week, with several players expressing their displeasure at what they feel is undo pressure from the league to get vaccinated.
Don’t count Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in that group.
Smith-Schuster said on Friday that he has been vaccinated and he has no problems with the way the NFL has presented the issue, while acknowledging that the decision on whether or not to get vaccinated should be a personal choice.
“I think everyone has a say, everyone has a voice,” Smith-Schuster said. “We’re all adults. At the end of the day, it’s your own health and your own body. I can’t speak for them. I just feel like do whatever is right for you. For me, obviously I got the vaccine and that’s just how I feel. Obviously with everything that’s going on, it’s tough for everyone.”
The Steelers are one of the most-vaccinated teams in the NFL, according to an Associated Press report just before the start of camp, with more than 85% of the team having been fully vaccinated before reporting.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said that the team’s leadership has essentially moved on from the issue after getting such a large response early on at OTAs and minicamp.
“We really kind of moved on, to be honest with you,” Tomlin said after the team’s first training camp practice on Thursday. “That’s why we wanted to be so proactive about addressing it, so we’re not spending a whole bunch of time thinking or talking about it. So, it’s a non-issue for us, thankfully, due to the efforts and willingness of our guys. We’re focused on football.”