San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Bears head coach Nagy to miss 49ers game due to COVID-19 protocols
Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy will miss Sunday’s game against the 49ers because of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. The team announced Saturday that special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as head coach against the 49ers. Nagy said Monday he had tested positive for the coronavirus. The 43-year-old coach, who is vaccinated, announced the result during a Zoom call minutes after his usual inperson session was switched.
Chicago (3-4) had four players on the COVID-19 list for last weekend’s 38-3 loss at Tampa Bay, with linebacker Caleb Johnson and right tackle Elijah Wilkinson joining linebacker Robert Quinn and tight end Jimmy Graham before kickoff. Running back Damien Williams was removed from the list a day before the game.
The Bears will have Quinn, Johnson and Wilkinson back for the matchup with the visiting 49ers (2-4), but offensive lineman Germain Ifedi was placed on the COVID-19 list on Friday.
Jets’ Wilson avoids IR: The New York Jets are optimistic about quarterback Zach Wilson’s sprained knee, choosing to not place him on injured reserve with the hope the rookie can return after missing just two games.
Wilson sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a 54-13 loss at New England last Sunday. He was ruled out for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati earlier in the week.
Coach Robert Saleh said Friday the team was still weighing its options with Wilson, whose initial recovery time was set at two to four weeks. By placing him on IR, the Jets wouldn’t have Wilson available again — if healthy — until their home game against Miami on Nov. 21.
New York has a short turnaround with a game next Thursday night at Indianapolis, so he’ll also sit out that game. But by not putting Wilson on IR on Saturday, the Jets left the door open for Wilson to potentially return Nov. 14 against Buffalo at home.
Mike White will make his first NFL start against the Bengals on Sunday. Josh Johnson was elevated from the practice squad Saturday and will serve as White’s backup.
The Jets traded for veteran Joe Flacco last Monday, but he didn’t practice with the team until Friday and will be inactive Sunday. He could be in the mix to start Thursday night if White falters.
Chiefs’ Mathieu apologizes: Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu apologized for a tweet calling his team’s supporters “one of the most toxic fan bases in all of sports” amid a disappointing 3-4 start for the two-time defending AFC champions.
The All-Pro safety, who is in the final year of his contract with the Chiefs, was replying to a tweet from teammate Anthony Hitchens on Friday. The linebacker had pointed out that Kansas City has been to three AFC title games, two Super Bowls and delivered the club’s first championship in 50 years in his three years with the club.
“Y’all fans will never be satisfied,” Hitchens concluded. “It’s sad!”
Mathieu said after Saturday’s practice that his tweet was “a mistake” and that he “shouldn’t have used those words.” He also said that he didn’t want to be a distraction ahead of Monday night’s game against the New York Giants.
“I haven’t had the season I’ve wanted to have,” Mathieu said. “As a team, we could say the same. You know, frustration tends to build up. Obviously, people that really know me — teammates, people that I deal with in the community, even fans that I happen to come across at the gas station — I think all of these people can see me being a genuine person.
“Obviously, I shouldn’t have used those choices of words.”
The Chiefs are last in the AFC West. The biggest reason has been one of the worst defenses in the NFL — defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit is 26th against the pass, 27th against the run and 28th overall while allowing 29 points per game.
Chargers activate Jones: Defensive lineman Justin Jones has been activated off injured reserve by the Los Angeles Chargers. Jones, who is in his fourth season, has missed the past five games after suffering a calf injury in the Sept. 12 opener at Washington. The Chargers (4-2) waived defensive lineman Forrest Merrill.