Saints have early COVID outbreak

Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that six unidentified members of the Saints’ coaching staff, a player and a nutritionist have tested positive for COVID-19 in the wake of the team’s season-opening victory Sunday against the Packers. Everyone on the Saints’ coaching staff reportedly has been vaccinated.

Neither the Saints nor the NFL made a public statement about the matter, and the names of those who tested positive aren’t expected to be released in the short term because of medical-privacy laws.

It is unclear how long those who tested positive will remain isolated from the team before they can return to the field or in-person meetings. For now, the Saints are operating under the NFL’s enhanced mitigation protocols, which means mandatory masking indoors, daily testing and no in-person meetings.

Running back Raheem Mostert said on Twitter that he will undergo season-ending knee surgery after being injured in the season opener Sunday at the Lions. Coach Kyle Shanahan had said Monday that Mostert was expected to miss eight weeks, but Mostert said he will miss the rest of the season.

The Broncos put receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Ronald Darby on injured reserve, meaning they will miss at least three weeks. Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury and Darby an ankle injury in the season opener Sunday at the Giants.

ESPN reported the NFL Players Association has determined receiver Josh Gordon, who has been suspended six times since 2013, successfully has completed his NFL-monitored treatment program and has recommended that he be reinstated.