Two more Saints coaches will miss Panthers game due to COVID-19 protocol

NEW ORLEANS — Eight Saints coaches will miss Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers due to the NFL's COVID-19 protocols.

Those coaches are:

• Ryan Nielsen (assistant head coach/defensive line)
• Brian Young (pass rush specialist)
• Jim Chaney (offensive analyst) 
• Declan Doyle (offensive assistant)
• Phil Galiano (assistant special teams)
• Curtis Johnson (senior offensive assistant/wide receivers)
• Dan Roushar (run game coordinator/tight ends) 
• Joel Thomas (running backs)

Offensive line coach Brendan Nugent was previously listed as unable to attend Sunday's game but has now been cleared to join the team in Charlotte.

Johnson's, Nugent's and Thomas' responsibilities have been divided among other offensive staff, according to the Saints.

The Saints announced Saturday that assistant head coach/defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen and pass rush specialist Brian Young will now miss Sundays game.

Locked on Network's Ross Jackson said "losing Ryan Nielsen on game day is big when you have Marcus Davenport and potentially Tanoh Kpassagnon out. Rookie Payton Tuner probably getting time, and of course, he’s the Asst. Head Coach".

Nielsen and Young's duties will be divided among the defensive staff.

On the offensive side the coaches still available are head coach Sean Payton, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, QB coach Ronald Curry, offensive line coach Brendan Nugent, assistant offensive line coach Zach Strief and offensive assistants Kevin Petry and DJ Williams.

The coaches who tested positive for COVID-19 are all vaccinated.

The NFL's COVID-19 protocols required them to test negative for COVID-19 twice before they could join the team in Carolina.

Over 90 percent of NFL players are vaccinated and the Saints roster has one of the highest rates for a team in the league. In late June MMQB's Albert Breer reported that the Saints were one the first teams to cross the 85% threshold for player vaccinations.

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