Bruce Arians tests positive for COVID-19, expects to miss Week 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday. Arians announced the news on the team's website, saying he is experiencing mild symptoms.
Arians, 69, said he expects to miss the team's Week 17 game against the New York Jets.
"I tested positive for COVID-19 this morning but have only experienced mild symptoms to this point," said Arians. "Harold Goodwin will take over my duties during my absence. I have complete confidence in him and the rest of our coaching staff to prepare the team for this week's game against the Jets. I look forward to rejoining the team and being back in the facility as soon as I can test back in."
Harold Goodwin will assume head coaching duties while Arians is out. Goodwin usually serves as the team's assistant head coach and run game coordinator. He previously served as the offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals for five seasons when Arians was the team's head coach.
The Buccaneers placed two players — Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean — on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday. Star receiver Mike Evans was placed on the list Monday.
In September, Arians announced the Bucs were 100 percent vaccinated. His figure included players, coaches and staff, meaning Arians — who is a three-time cancer survivor — received the COVID-19 vaccine. That number proved false in December, when it was revealed at least two members of the Buccaneers — Antonio Brown and Mike Edwards — misrepresented their vaccine status.
Arians was not happy about that development.
