The COVID 19 infection has been killing the sports season this year. Firstly, a three-month postponed season and now to aggravate situations, it has found its way into the locker rooms. As if New Orleans’ Payton wasn’t enough, Eagles’ head coach, Doug Pederson tested COVID positive and informed the team on Sunday after confirmation came from the second round of tests.
Pederson is the next head coach in line to be infected with the virus after Payton and is currently under home quarantine. He is expected to coach virtually and, in his absence, Duce Staley will be handling matters on the field.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 3, 2020
Pederson on the other hand will be under strict protocol and will be monitored closely by the team. Though the Eagles coach is asymptomatic and also feeling well, his infection would be dealt with very carefully and he will have to produce two negative tests within 48 hours to get back on the field.
The Eagles administration issued a statement regarding Pederson saying, “Pederson is asymptomatic and doing well; He is currently in self-quarantine and in communication with the team’s medical staff. The organization is following the protocols established by the NFL and the NFLPA.”
Though Pederson has been isolated, the Eagles’ administration is taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of the team. Every player, staff, and coach who had been around with Pederson for the last few days is being tested and will be under strict protocol as well.
Besides the Eagles offense of Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and Nathan Gerry, Pederson is the first in the coaching and admin board to test positive and is observing the same isolation as the players.
The Eagles administration board further added, “Any individuals in close contact with Pederson at our facility have been notified and will continue with daily testing procedures and compliance with all protocols before returning to the facility.”
Regarding the team bubble at NovaCare, Pederson had said, “When you’re here, when you get tested in the morning, you’ve got a screening process that you have to go through to get into the building; Wearing masks in the building and everywhere we go, I feel extremely safe. This is our bubble right here at NovaCare. I can’t control everything. We can’t control everything. There probably are going to be some things that come up down the road. But right now I feel extremely safe and this is a great environment for our players to succeed in.”
Duce Staley expresses his grief in his statements for the head coach. In his speech, his apprehension is starkly recognizable as he says, “We all know we have to be careful; That’s something that all coaches are talking to our players (about) and among ourselves, just to remind ourselves. Sometimes you get up to go get a coffee and you may forget your mask. Sometimes you go to the bathroom and you may forget your mask. We’re all reminding each other of how serious this is. We’re reminding the players. This is a different time for us. As a team, we must make the adjustments so we can be successful down the road.”
After the New Orleans Saints players and coaches getting affected, now the Philadelphia Eagles are facing the COVID burst in their team. The infection is taking a heavy toll on football.
