NFL teams
Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer 2y

All Chicago Bears coordinators, six more players in COVID-19 protocols, coach Matt Nagy says

NFL, Chicago Bears

All three of the Chicago Bears' coordinators are in the COVID-19 protocols, coach Matt Nagy said Thursday, as the team also added six players, including wide receiver Allen Robinson II, to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Sean Desai and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor are all working remotely, Nagy said. Their status for Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings is uncertain.

"I don't know either way," Nagy said of the coaches' potential availability for Monday's game. "We're prepared if they are, and we're prepared if they're not."

Along with Robinson, defensive back Eddie Jackson, running back Ryan Nall, tight end Jesse James, linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe and practice squad wide receiver Isaiah Coulter were placed on the reserve list Thursday.

That brings the Bears' total to 12 players on the reserve list, as five were added to it Monday. The Bears were without 19 players for Thursday's practice, including eight listed as nonparticipants due to illness.

The NFL on Thursday relaxed the testing requirements to clear vaccinated people, potentially clearing the coordinators and players for a faster return.

Nagy missed the Bears' Week 8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers while in the COVID-19 protocols. Tabor handled the head-coaching duties for that game.

Nagy did not say who would cover his coordinators' jobs if they aren't available Monday night, but he did note that longtime NFL defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is on the staff as a senior defensive assistant. At different times this season, both Lazor and Nagy have called offensive plays.

The Bears will follow the NFL's enhanced protocols for at least the next few days, Nagy said. On Thursday, that meant a walkthrough instead of a full practice, and then virtual meetings as well as mask-wearing among both vaccinated and unvaccinated players and employees in the building. Nagy said he was not sure if the Bears would have a full practice Friday.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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