All 3 Bears coordinators in COVID-19 protocols
All three Bears coordinators are working remotely this week due to COVID-19 protocols, head coach Matt Nagy said Thursday.
Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Sean Desai and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor are all keeping their distance from Halas Hall in Lake Forest. Nagy wouldn't provide any additional details on their health statuses.
The Bears have 12 players on the COVID-19 list after adding six more to the list Thursday.
Immediately following practice, the team placed tight end Jesse James, linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe, receiver Allen Robinson, safety Eddie Jackson, running back Ryan Nall and practice squad receiver Isaiah Coulter on the COVID list.
Eight additional players are affected by non-COVID-19 illnesses. The NFL saw a record number of players placed on the COVID-19 list earlier this week.
“I can't get into symptoms,” Nagy said Thursday. “I can't do that for players or coaches.”
The Bears face the Minnesota Vikings Monday night. At this point, it's unclear if Nagy will have any of his coordinators available for that game.
“I don't know that for sure,” Nagy said. “We're prepared if they are and we're prepared if they're not.”
Lazor has been calling plays for the offense for much of the season. If he's not available, that duty will likely fall on Nagy, who called plays before handing the responsibility off to Lazor.
Nagy wouldn't definitively say who the backup defensive coordinator would be, but he brought up Mike Pettine's name. Pettine is a senior defensive assistant coach for the Bears, who previously served as the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator for three seasons and is a former NFL head coach. He's certainly qualified to fill in for Desai.
As for special teams, Tabor previously served as the acting head coach when Nagy missed a game after contracting COVID-19. Brian Ginn is in his second season as the assistant special teams coach. Ginn was an offensive quality control coach for two seasons before that and coached in various roles at the University of Delaware for 18 seasons from 2000-17.
Due to all of the illnesses and COVID-19 issues, Thursday's practice was changed to a walk-through. Nagy said it's unclear if the team will hold a normal practice Friday. Thursday afternoon's team meetings were moved remotely as well.
“You can walk through it, but it's not the same without repping it live,” quarterback Justin Fields said. “That's the biggest difference for me.”
Nagy missed a week earlier this season due to a positive COVID-19 test. The head coached watched practices and the Oct. 31 game against the San Francisco 49ers remotely from a hotel.
Nagy said his coordinators will continue to participate in meetings over Zoom.
“We're not the only team in the NFL that's going through this, or really any sports league, there's other teams that are going through this,” Nagy said. “When you keep that mindset, you understand it. You try to stay as positive as you can.”
Injury updates: Offensive tackle Germain Ifedi and defensive back Duke Shelley were designated for a return to practice Thursday. Both players have been on injured reserve for several weeks. A return to practice opens up a 21-day window during which they can return to the active roster.
Left tackle Jason Peters has a high ankle sprain, but Nagy doesn't think it will require a stint on injured reserve.
Implications at tackle: If Ifedi can return this week, that would be a huge relief for the battered offensive tackle position. Ifedi has been out since Week 5 due to a knee injury.
With Peters sidelined, rookie Teven Jenkins could be needed to start at left tackle. Rookie right tackle Larry Borom went on the COVID-19 list Wednesday. If Borom's not available, Lachavious Simmons or Alex Bars could be in line to start at right tackle.
Unless, of course, Ifedi returns. But it's a lot to ask a player who has been out for two months to return to action with one week of practice, especially when that week has already been disrupted by COVID-19 issues.