Hawks’ Collins, Bogdanovic, Johnson clear protocols, can return
In a huge boost for a Hawks roster that has been upended because of COVID-19, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jalen Johnson have cleared health and safety protocols.
That means they all have returned two negative COVID-19 tests, taken 24 hours apart. Collins will travel to Los Angeles and meet with Hawks medical staff to go through a workout and see how he’s feeling, and it’s expected that Bogdanovic and Johnson will do the same. None will be available for the Hawks’ game in Sacramento Wednesday.
If up for it, they’ll join the team as it takes on the Lakers on Friday and the Clippers on Sunday, but the Hawks will wait to see how they’re doing before determining availability (some NBA players have bounced back quickly from COVID-19, others have taken a little longer to get their wind back). Johnson has a little more conditioning work to do coming back from COVID-19 and is listed as “not with team/return to competition reconditioning” on the Hawks’ most recent injury report, while Collins and Bogdanovic are listed as “not with team.”
Whenever Collins and Bogdanovic return, though, it certainly will help the Hawks to have two starters back, and having Johnson available will provide more depth, something they’ve been sorely lacking as of late.
About the Author
Sarah K. Spencer, a Georgia native and UGA alum, spearheads sports video at the AJC. She also serves as a general assignment writer and previously covered the Hawks from 2019-22.
