Castillo forced to quarantine
O-line coach was in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19
Chicago Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo will be away from the team this week after he self-reported he was in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Bears coach Matt Nagy made the announcement Wednesday after practice, saying Castillo would work with his players only via Zoom and would not travel to the game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. Castillo has not tested positive, and Nagy said Castillo’s quarantine was unrelated to the positive test of practice squad offensive lineman Badara Traore over the weekend.
Castillo’s absence comes at a challenging time for the Bears as they try to replace starting left guard James Daniels, who was lost for the season Thursday with a torn pectoral muscle. Bears assistant offensive line coach Donovan Raiola will take over Castillo’s duties during the game Sunday.
“He’ll be down on the field and interacting with those guys,” Nagy said of Raiola. “In a game-day situation, it ’s next-man-up mentality on the coaching side, and so this is an opportunity for him to grow. He did a hell of a job today in installs, and I just thought it was fun to watch that happen. The guys have trust in him, and for us as a coaching staff, we’ve got to be able to help him out to help those players out.”
The Bears news came about six hours after the Panthers announced they would take extra precautions this week after an opposing player tested positive.
Atlanta Falcons rookie defensive lineman Marlon Davidson tested positive for COVID-19, ESPN reported. That affects the Panthers because they beat the Falcons 23-16 on Sunday, and Davidson played 12 snaps on defense and five on special teams.
The Panthers had not placed anybody on the COVID-19/reserve list as of Wednesday afternoon, but they must follow updated NFL protocols for teams that might have been exposed to the virus.
Under the new, more stringent rules, teams that might have been exposed must hold meetings virtually and require players and coaches to wear masks at all times during practices. Typically, players are not required to wear masks when they are practicing.
Players other than the quarterback also must wear gloves. Weight-room sessions are limited to 10 players at a time. And teams must administer dail y point-of-care tests, which provide rapid results, before anyone can enter the facility, in addition to daily PCR tests, which are more accurate but take longer to return results.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said they also shut down the team meal room and adjusted practice because they were wearing masks.
“All substantial things, but nothing that, to me, affects the game,” Rhule said.
“It’s just things that, hey, if this is going to help us be safer and guarantee that we have a chance to play, then I’m all for it.”
The Bears already had their schedule disrupted this week after Traore’s positive test.
The Bears were away from Halas Hall on Saturday and Sunday with scheduled days off because they played Thursday night. They kept their practice squad away from the facility Monday and opted for a walk-through instead of their originally planned practice.
They adjusted t heir schedule again Wednesday so that players went straight from their walk-through into practice, eliminating time to mingle in the locker room.
They have removed seating in the cafeteria and are offering only to-go boxes for food. They are limiting the number of players who can be in the weight room at a time. And they are doing afternoon meetings via Zoom.