A few hours after being named the starter for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco walked into the team's indoor interview room wearing a mask. 

NFL COVID-19 protocols require unvaccinated players to wear a mask at all times when indoors at a team facility. So Flacco was asked if he'd been vaccinated. 

"I'm not vaccinated," Flacco said. 

Players who aren't vaccinated are required to adhere to much more strict league protocols that make them far more likely to miss a game for COVID-related reasons, which is why knowing a player's vaccination status is relevant.