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Dez Bryant tests Covid-19 positive: Is it goodbye for Baltimore Ravens WR this season and what is his net worth?

How did Bryant catch Covid-19? His routine daily PCR test had apparently come back inconclusive, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero

Two-and-a-half years back, the Dallas Cowboys and Dez Bryant made their farewells. The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver then joined the Baltimore Ravens and was all set for a face-off with the Cowboys in the Tuesday, December 8, 2020, night match. Not all went according to the plan as Bryant tested positive for the coronavirus disease after being pulled from warmups prior to the match.

In a string of tweets, the 32-year-old announced the news on Twitter and left several fans stunned. “Tell me why they pull me from warming up so I can go get tested... my s**t come back positive... I tested positive for Covid WTF,” he first wrote and added, “The crazy thing is I have the same damn routine.... this s**t does not make sense to me.” In a third tweet, he said, “Yea I’m going to go ahead and call it a quit for the rest of the season... I can’t deal with this.”

His tweet sparked much frenzy among fans and they couldn't stop wondering if he will be back in the game or not. He then posed a doubt, “Since I tested positive for Covid before the game do the game stop or go on? @NFL.” Unable to cope up with the shock, he even confessed he is going to sip on some wine. “I’m about to drink some wine and cope...” his tweet read, adding, “I’m not drunk yet. I only had one glass of wine... I’m getting my business stuff together to share with you all lol.”

The question now is whether he will return in 2021. When one fan asked if he was coming back, he posted, “Yea I’m coming back... I’m being smart.”

How did Bryant catch Covid-19?

USA Today reported, “Bryant’s routine daily PCR test earlier Tuesday had apparently come back inconclusive, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Re-running the results in a lab led to another inclusive test, so the league guided the Ravens to administer a point-of care, or rapid, test during warmups. It was then that Bryant — who had already caught up with a host of former teammates and members of the Cowboys organization — was ruled ineligible.”

The report further read, “The NFL still kicked off the game as scheduled, believing no players needed to be deemed high-risk close contacts because the Ravens had adhered to masking and social-distancing protocols in recent days, a person with knowledge of the decision told USA Today Sports’ Mike Jones. The person spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Bryant becomes the 24th player to test positive for COVID-19 since Nov. 23, when Baltimore was ravaged by an outbreak the team later said included four strains of the novel coronavirus.”

The news sparked many concerned reactions online with the trend "Dez Caught It". One tweet read, “Ryan Mink deleted this gem. His tweet read, Lots of hugs between Dez Bryant and Cowboys players/coaches/staff early in the warm-up.” A number of photos started circulating online where he could be seen hugging others.

ESPN national NFL writer Kevin Seifert then answered two pertinent questions. “Seeing a lot of questions about close contacts, especially given photos of Dez Bryant hugging and interacting with Cowboys people before the game. Here's how 'close contact' is defined in the NFL/NFLPA policy. Note that it does not include 'brief interactions'.” He added, “A remaining question: Why was Dez Bryant allowed to warm up if his previous tests were 'inconclusive?' Per the NFL/NFLPA protocol, an 'inconclusive' test is supposed to be treated the same as a "positive" test until it is resolved one way or the other.”

Bryant, who has also struggled with mental health issues and opened up about his depression and anxiety in the past, also kept repeatedly talking about his business ventures on Twitter. Here's a quick look at his massive fortune. With a net worth of $23.5 million (per Forbes), his merchandise sales during the 2015 season were the fifth-highest in the league and tops among non-quarterbacks.

Forbes also reported: “Bryant's endorsement partners include Nike's Jordan brand, BodyArmor and Panini. BodyArmor partnered with Bryant in January 2016 to help spread the sports drink in Texas and made him a shareholder in the company as part of the deal.”

What happens to Bryant now? According to Sports Illustrated, “Whenever a player tests positive for COVID-19, the league conducts contact tracing and determines who qualifies as a high-risk close contact. If there are any Ravens who do, after Bryant's positive result, they would have to be pulled from this game.”