Patrick Peterson critical of unvaccinated players ‘living in a different world’

Vikings defensive back Patrick Peterson received the COVID-19 vaccine and questions why some players won’t get the shot to help their team.

There has been a lot of talk around NFL players who are uncertain about or don’t intend to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Patrick Peterson isn’t on the same page.

The Minnesota Vikings cornerback addressed the topic on his podcast “All Things Covered,” revealing he is vaccinated and that he doesn’t understand why others are resistant.

Patrick Peterson says getting vaccinated puts players in best position to win

“If you’re not vaccinated, you’re just living in a different world,” Peterson said. “Why put yourself at risk of going through that again?”

Based on new NFL regulations, players who are vaccinated don’t need daily testing or masks. They don’t have any travel restrictions. Critically, they do not need to quarantine after exposure to the coronavirus.

Players who aren’t vaccinated still have mask requirements, travel restrictions, daily testing and will generally face more hoops to jump through on a daily basis.

The question of how unvaccinated players might impact a team’s season is a big one. They won’t be able to travel in the same buses as their teammates and could have their routine altered by testing and quarantine.

“Everybody has their different views. But at the end of the day, if we’re all in this in trying to win a championship and there’s a very small percentage of the shots affecting people, why not put yourself in the best position possible to win a championship, if that’s what you have a desire of doing?” Peterson said.

Bryant McFadden pointed out how championship teams aren’t always the best team. They’re the healthiest and luckiest. Whatever it takes to keep as healthy as possible matters.

For Peterson, the return to normality was the draw of getting the vaccine.

“If you do have the shot, you almost can have a free life all over again,” he said, adding that he is excited not to have to wear a mask or get tested and to decrease the risk of passing something on to his family.

Peterson is in his first season with the Vikings after leaving the Arizona Cardinals.