JACKSONVILLE – COVID-19 will affect the Jaguars' defensive staff in a big way this week.
Todd Wash, the Jaguars' defensive coordinator, won't be available to coach in Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns because of the NFL's COVID-19 protocols. Head Coach Doug Marrone announced the news Wednesday morning.
Safeties coach Joe Danna will call the defense Sunday, something he did for the Jaguars during the 2019 preseason. Danna also has called defensive plays during the preseason as an assistant in Atlanta, Marrone said.
"That's something that I think most teams always prepare for in case of an emergency," Marrone said of having different options to call plays if a coordinator is unavailable. "Obviously, with COVID, everything is kind of ramped up to make sure we have backups for everything we do."
Marrone and special teams assistant coach Mike Mallory will coach the defense during practice this week.
"We'll take care of that," Marrone said. "It's not a problem. A lot of us when we started coaching coached both sides of the football. The players will do a good job. It's adversity you face, but it's not going to affect the way we plan or the way we do things. The only part that the coaches aren't involved in will be the hour and twenty minutes we're on the football field. Other than that, they're all in there. I don't see it as a major thing."
Wash will run team meetings virtually this week, Marrone said. The Jaguars' defensive staff is working remotely under the league's COVID-19 protocols.
Defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich, who missed this past Sunday's 27-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, also will miss Sunday's game. Defensive assistant Dwayne Stukes also will miss Sunday's game.
Assistant linebackers coach Tony Gilbert will coach the defensive line Sunday. Wash and Rebrovich under league rules will have no involvement during the game Sunday.
