The Detroit Lions have had two head coaches so far during the 2020 season. This Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they may need a third.
Interim head coach Darrell Bevell has been at the helm since the firing of the maligned Matt Patricia last month, compiling a 1-2 record so far on the job. However, Bevell may not be able to coach this weekend – along with several other members of the coaching staff.
After yesterday’s practice was cancelled after two members of the organization tested positive for COVID-19, Bevell and other coaches have been in isolation.
“It was probably the perfect storm, in terms of when you have an away game and you have somebody test positive on Monday,” Bevell said during a video call from his hotel room on Wednesday afternoon. “They go back 48 hours (for contact tracing). In a travel situation, you have the plane, you have the hotel, you have the buses, you have the smaller locker room at away places. There are a lot of things to sift through and a lot of information on that, so we’re still working through that.”
Bevell was forced to spend his wedding anniversary quarantining in a hotel room, and may be forced to spend the holidays doing the same.
A team defensive assistant was later discovered to not be wearing his NFL-mandated contact tracing device, further complicating the matter. However, Bevell wouldn’t comment on that situation.
“Yeah, I’m not going to confirm or deny that,” Bevell said. “I’m not trying to be evasive or not forthcoming. I want to make sure that (being forthcoming) is something I’m doing. But like I said, we’re still trying to gather all the information. I’m super concerned about our health and safety of all our players, in particular their families at this time. I mean, holiday season, more people are going to be here. I just don’t want to make any statements before we have all the facts and all the things that need to come out from that.”
Though Bevell wouldn’t say who would potentially replace him on Sunday, the announcement would be made Thursday afternoon.
“Obviously I’m super frustrated just with all the things that are going on,” said Bevell. “It’s kinda hard times, but I don’t think it’s any different than anybody else is going through in the world right now. Frustrated, you know? Yesterday was my 28th wedding anniversary. I’m stuck in a hotel, can’t be with my wife, can’t spend time. It affects us in a real way.”
– – Quotes via Kyle Meinke of MLive Link – –
