New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Friday.
The team says Payton is fully vaccinated but he will not coach in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Payton is scheduled to return on Dec. 27 when New Orleans takes on the Miami Dolphins. According to NFL protocols, he is out unless he meets the requirements for fully vaccinated personnel to return.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will take over the coaching duties against the Buccaneers. The Saints (6-7) essentially have to win their remaining four games to compete for a postseason spot in the NFC.
This is the second time that Payton has tested positive for the virus. In March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, Payton was one of the first in the NFL to acknowledge he had COVID-19.
Also Friday:
-The Washington Football Team announced that quarterback Taylor Heinicke was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Washington now braces for a Sunday showdown with the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles while having to turn to practice squad quarterback Kyle Shurmur, unless Kyle Allen, who was placed on the COVID-19 list earlier this week, is able to test out of protocol.
Garrett Gilbert and Jordan Ta’amu are the other two recent pickups at quarterback for Washington.
-Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney also tested positive. Clowney sat out Thursday’s practice because an illness but had tested negative until Friday.
Contributing: Mike Jones, USA TODAY Sports; Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal
