Andy Reid said Tyrann Mathieu is still in the COVID protocol as of Wednesday

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that — as of his Noon press availability on Wednesday ahead of the team’s first game against the Cleveland Browns — safety Tyrann Mathieu is still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Mathieu was first reported to be in the COVID protocol on September 1.

“Tyrann’s still in the protocol,” said Reid. “We’ll just see how that goes. He is getting better, though, which is a good thing.”

Since Mathieu has been reported to be vaccinated, so long is he is asymptomatic, he can return to the team after two negative tests 24 hours apart. Perhaps Reid’s comments mean that Mathieu has received one negative test, and the Chiefs may see him back at practice by the end of the week.

“As long as everything’s physically OK, and (vice president of sports medicine and performance) Rick (Burkholder) and the docs stay on top of that, and we’re in communication with him, obviously, so if he can go, he’ll go. If he can’t, then he can’t.

“[We will] make sure he’s safe to do it, though.”

If Mathieu can’t play against the Browns, the expected starters at safety are Daniel Sorensen and Juan Thornhill. Reid also noted that center Austin Blythe (sports hernia surgery) would do some work but not practice — and that defensive end Frank Clark (hamstring) would practice.