Stricken head coach at home, Staley now interim top coach

Doug Pederson didn’t bother to say where he’d contracted the coronavirus. More likely, he really doesn’t know.

Speaking on a Zoom video media session Monday, the 52-year-old Pederson sounded just like any other person startled by a positive COVID-19 test result.

“I want everybody to know I feel great,” Pederson said. “The energy level is high. And really there are no symptoms whatsoever. I’m very fortunate because I do know and understand this virus attacks people a little bit differently. I’ve been in constant communication not only with our medical team but also my staff and the team itself.”

Pederson told his players of the positive test result Sunday night. He also made them aware the Eagles are identifying and testing the players, coaches and staff who have come in close contact with him, as per NFL protocols.

“Like I told my team last night, this virus, it holds no prejudices,” Pederson said. “It can affect any one of us. That part of it doesn’t matter. We’ve got to abide by the protocols that are in place. Our building is a great place to be. It is a safe place to be for our players and coaches and all that are involved.”

Pederson says he’s quarantining at home, away from his family as much as possible. He confirmed that assistant head coach Duce Staley was the interim head coach, and that

they’re in constant communication.

“I do everything I can virtually,” Pederson said. “I just finished up a bunch of player meetings, group meetings this morning. Guys are getting ready for a walk-through on the field. Duce, he just assumes my role, the day-to-day activities in the building. He and I talk every single morning. I give him sort of my thoughts on where I’m leaning and what I’m thinking, and then he carries that message forward. He’s done a great job so far and will continue that going forward.”

While Pederson declined to speculate on how he became infected, some of his remarks suggested it likely occurred outside the team complex. That’s an issue going forward not only for himself, but his players and staff.

“One of the things we all need to learn, and what I need to learn, is we need to protect ourselves when we’re in the community away from the building,” Pederson said. “Continue to wash our hands, wear our masks, and do the social distancing that the medical teams and doctors have described.”

There are other ways to go about conducting an NFL training camp in the era of COVID. For example, the New Orleans Saints have taken over a hotel to accommodate players for training camp. The idea is to sequester players as much as possible to avoid infection. Head coach Sean Payton went public during the offseason with his positive test for COVID-19.

Pederson said the Eagles use a nearby hotel but that the choice to stay is up to the players.

“These are all things that were negotiated between the players and management, and we’ve actually given the players, the veteran players who have homes here, we have given them the option to either stay at the hotel or stay at home,” Pederson said. “That’s part of the agreement. Everybody’s situation is different. Everybody wants to protect their families, obviously, and I understand that, so we do give them that option to decide.”

Beyond that, during training camp Pederson said the players have an 11 p.m. curfew after what amounds to “a 12-hour workday.

“There’s not a lot of time at the end of the day,” Pederson said. “Once they leave the building, they are on their own and it’s up to me and my staff and our trainers and doctors to educate them on the protocols outside of the building.”

Pederson declined to put a timetable on his return. At the soonest it’s going to take consecutive negative tests that occur no sooner than five days from Sunday before he can get back in the building. Those negative tests must occur at least 48 hours apart.