Lions Interim HC Darrell Bevell Won’t Coach Saturday Due To COVID-19 Protocols

According to Ian Rapoport, Lions interim HC Darrell Bevell won’t coach Saturday against the Buccaneers due to the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols.

Bevell is a high-risk close contact of someone who tested positive for the virus and has to isolate for five days while continuing to test negative. 

Rapoport says Lions WR coach Robert Prince will fill in for Bevell as interim head coach, while QB coach Sean Ryan will call the plays. 

The Lions announced the full list of coaches who will miss Saturday’s game also includes DC Cory Undlin, DL coach Bo Davis, DB coach Steve Gregory and LB coach Tyrone McKenzie.

Interim Head Coach Darrell Bevell, Defensive Coordinator Cory Undlin, Defensive Line Coach Bo Davis, Defensive Backs Coach Steve Gregory and Linebackers Coach Ty McKenzie will not coach in Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay due to COVID-19 protocols. pic.twitter.com/a173JJqAGF

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 24, 2020

Lions head coach assistant/research and analysis coach Evan Rothstein will call the defensive plays in Undlin’s absense. 

Bevell, 50, began his NFL coaching career with the Packers as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2000. He eventually worked his way up to QBs coach before being hired by the Vikings as their offensive coordinator in 2006.

After five years in Minnesota, Bevell signed on with the Seahawks for the 2011 season and spent seven years in Seattle before he was fired in 2018. The Lions hired him as their offensive coordinator the next year. 

Detroit promoted him to interim head coach after firing Matt Patricia. So far in 2020, Bevell is 1-2 as the interim.