The New Orleans Saints have had eight members of the organization test positive for COVID-19, calling into question their status for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The total includes six offensive coaches, one player and a nutritionist, according to a source.
If they are asymptomatic, vaccinated players and personnel can return when they provide two negative test results 24 hours apart, per NFL protocols. Unvaccinated players and personnel who test positive must isolate for at least 10 days.
The Saints will release their first practice participation report for Sunday’s game on Wednesday.
Saints coach Sean Payton said during the summer that the team’s coaching and personnel staffs were 100% vaccinated.
The Saints play Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. They played their Week 1 home opener at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field after being displaced because of Hurricane Ida, beating the Green Bay Packers 38-3.
The team is practicing at TCU’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
ESPN’s Mike Triplett contributed to this report.
