Saints' Payton to miss SNF vs. Bucs after testing positive for COVID-19

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced Friday.

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will take over head coaching duties for the NFC South matchup.

Payton missed Wednesday's practice after feeling sick and participated in meetings virtually, according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk.

The team expects the coach to return on Dec. 27 when the Saints host the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.

This is the second time Payton has been diagnosed with COVID-19. He was the first NFL coach, front-office executive, or player known to have tested positive for the virus back in March 2020.

Running back Mark Ingram and defensive end Cameron Jordan currently remain on New Orleans' reserve/COVID-19 list.

Payton is the second head coach to test positive this week, following Cleveland Browns' Kevin Stefanski.

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