Saints still without three assistant coaches due to COVID-19 protocols

The New Orleans Saints coaching staff is nearly back to its full strength after 8 of its 25 members missed Week 2’s road loss to the Carolina Panthers amid an outbreak of COVID-19 cases. Just three assistant coaches will miss Week 3’s away game with the New England Patriots, the team announced: defensive line/assistant head coach Ryan Nielsen, pass-rush specialist Brian Young, and run game coordinator/tight ends coach Dan Roushar.

A small crowd of other assistants were cleared to return to work this week, including receivers coach Curtis Johnson, running backs coach Joel Thomas, special teams assistant Phil Galiano, offensive analyst Jim Chaney, and offensive assistant Declan Doyle.…