Could his diabetes prevent Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson from playing during pandemic?

Upon first glance, most may assume Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, who has eight Pro Bowl and three First-Team All-Pro appearances to his name, is the picture of health and would have little to worry about, outside of exposing others, regarding a return to football amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As ESPN's Josh Weinfuss reports, though, the 29-year-old defensive back is a Type-2 diabetic, which would make him an immunocompromised member of any locker room.

According to Weinfuss, Peterson spoke with reporters on Thursday about what this could mean for his immediate future: "If I feel that if that's the safest thing possible for us to be able to come back to work, I'm all-in," Peterson said. "But if it's not, obviously I have to make — not I, we all have to make a very, very smart decision because you don't want to have the opportunity to bringing that back home.

"So, that's the biggest thing we (can) do is make sure that we're smart. I now feel the NFL is doing everything that they can, but it's just so tough to put a finger on it on how to evolve around this virus."

Earlier this month, NFL Players Association medical director Thom Mayer said during "The Adam Schefter Podcast" that the league was testing special protective face masks to prevent droplets expelled by players from falling onto teammates, opponents and officials. 

As of the final Friday in May, the NFL still intends to begin its preseason on Aug. 6 with the Hall of Fame Game featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.