Sean Payton tests positive for COVID-19, absent with Saint at Buccaneers

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced Friday.

This is the second time coach Payton has tested positive for COVID-19, as March 2020 was the first known positive test for coronavirus in the NFL.

Payton was "immediately isolated," according to the team and will remain so unless he meets the league requirements for a fully vaccinated individual to return to the team environment.

"Per NFL protocols, Payton will be out for 10 days unless he meets the league requirements for a fully vaccinated individual to return to the team environment", Saints said in a statement.

"Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will assume the duties of head coach for the Tampa Bay game on Sunday, Dec. 19. Payton will return to coach the Dec. 27 game against the Miami Dolphins in the Caesars Superdome," the team added.

Payton missed practice Wednesday

The positive test for Payton comes after he missed practice Wednesday when the club said he was "under the weather" but had tested negative. Payton was back at practice and meetings on Thursday.

Payton's positive test came as COVID-19 cases spiked across the NFL in recent days, mirroring trends seen in the general population.

Three Saints players - defensive end Cameron Jordan, running back Mark Ingram and receiver Ty Montgomery - were out against the New York Jets on Sunday because of positive COVID-19 tests. But by Thursday, Jordan and Montgomery had been activated from New Orleans' reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Saints (6-7) snapped a five-game skid when they beat the Jets 30-9 and remain in contention for one of the NFC's wild-card playoff spots with four regular-season games remaining.

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