The Philadelphia Eagles confirmed that head coach Doug Pederson has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The team issued this statement on its website Sunday evening.
"We received confirmation this evening that Head Coach Doug Pederson tested positive for COVID-19. Pederson is asymptomatic and doing well. He is currently in self-quarantine and in communication with the team's medical staff. The organization is following the protocols established by the NFL and the NFLPA. Any individuals in close contact with Pederson at our facility have been notified and will continue with daily testing procedures and compliance with all protocols before returning to the facility."
Despite his lack of symptoms, there is growing concern within the medical community that younger people who contracted the virus and are asymptomatic or had symptoms but recovered from COVID-19, have developed health issues weeks or months later.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez had a bout with the illness in early July and at one point said he felt “like I was 100 years old.” But he recovered fully and had been scheduled to open the season for the Red Sox.
That didn't happen and it has been announce that the 27-year-old left-hander will miss the 2020 season while recovering from a heart issue related to the illness.According to multiple reports, Rodriguez, who tested positive for the coronavirus July 7, was ready to return July 18, but, five days later, an MRI revealed what turned out to be myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart that has been shown to be a complication of a virus that can affect the kidneys and heart as well as the lungs.
“The heart is the most important part of your body, so when you hear that — the first time that I heard it — I was kind of scared,” Rodriguez said (via Mass Live) July 26. “Now that I know what it is, it’s still scary, but now I know exactly what it is. Just talk to my mom, talk to my wife, they know what I have and everything. Now we just gotta take the rest. That’s hard, but you gotta take a rest.''
Pederson is the second NFL head coach to test positive for the coronavirus.
In March, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton revealed that he had tested positive.
It has also been reported that an Eagles staffer who was in close proximity of Pederson was sent home to self-quarantine.
THREE EAGLES WERE PLACED ON THE RESERVE/COVID-19 LIST ON JULY 29
The Eagles announced on Wednesday that three players were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list – linebacker Nate Gerry, and tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.
The Reserve/COVID-19 list was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been in close contact with an infected person or persons. Per NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player's medical status other than referring to roster status.
Johnson posted on his Twitter account that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was in currently in self-quarantine.
EAGLES END ROOKIE INTERVIEW SESSION EARLY ON SUNDAY NIGHT
The Eagles conducted business as usual Sunday evening, scheduling three rookies for zoom video conferences at about 4:45 PM.
Wide receiver Quez Watkins, and defensive end Casey Toohill had finished their interviews, but the session with offensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho was postponed after a delay.
An Eagles official said there was a delay of some kind and that Tega Wanogho had to be at a meeting.
It is not known if the that was the time when Eagles management was made aware of their head coach's COVID-19 positive results, or if any of these players had been in contact with Pederson.
If that was the case, cutting off the interview session was understandable and the right thing to do. It has been reported that Pederson addressed the team after it was learned he had tested positive. *
Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii