The majority of respiratory viruses are single‐stranded RNA viruses that are detected by TLR3,7 and 8 of which neutrophils predominately express TLR8, low levels of TLR7 and little to no TLR3.6, 7, 8 We speculate that the inability of RV and influenza to replicate in neutrophils could explain our results as the limited amount of viral RNA derived from the initial infection may be insufficient to activate the TLRs. The gene discussed is TLR8; the disease is influenza.