The Cleveland Browns will observe from the opposite sideline as the Arizona Cardinals deal with COVID-19 related issues. As we have reported all week, defensive end Chandler Jones is likely to miss the game due to his positive test.

Now comes word that the team’s head coach, and offensive play-caller, Kliff Kingsbury will miss the game due to a positive test as well. He will be joined by the team’s quarterbacks coach, Cam Turner, and defensive line coach, Zach Allen. All tested positive on Friday prior to the team flying out.

Based on NFL protocols, the Cardinals now enter “Enhanced Mitigation Measures” as defined in their protocols handbook. Those measures include daily testing for all players and staff and masking while indoors. The increased testing could create more problems for Arizona as the general protocol is weekly testing for vaccinated players.

The Browns experienced many of these issues in 2021 especially late in the season. Cleveland was without their wide receiver group for a game against the New York Jets, didn’t have their head coach for their first playoff game and had many practices canceled due to positive tests or close contacts.

According to Adam Schefter, the Cardinals are expected to “split” head coaching duties for Sunday’s game between their defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator.

According to The OBR’s Jake Burns, Arizona doesn’t seem to have anyone on the staff with recent experience calling plays to replace Kingsbury’s role on the offense. It is believed that Sean Kugler, the team’s run game coordinator and offensive line coach, will call plays. Based on information on the team’s official site, Kugler has never called plays at the college or NFL level despite being in the league for 20 years.

Things may have gotten tougher for the road team in Week 6, with the possibility of more COVID-related concerns prior to the game, but the Cardinals are still a very talented team. They will just be without a lot of leadership in Week 6.