The Bengals coaching staff took a hit when three defensive assistants were unable to attend Sunday's game against the undefeated Steelers for Covid-19 related reasons. The club made the announcement shortly before staff and players boarded buses in downtown Pittsburgh for the brief ride to Heinz Field.
Cornerbacks coach Steven Jackson, linebackers coach Al Golden and senior defensive assistant Mark Duffner were out of the game, joining wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell after he didn't make Saturday's trip to Pittsburgh for the same reason.
Defensive quality control coach Jordan Kovacs replaced Golden and safeties coach Robert Livingston took over the secondary. Assistant defensive line coach Gerald Chatman, who works with Duffner overseeing the defensive ends and pass rushers, also was assigned Duffner's game duties.
Duffner and Livingston were slated to be in the Heinz visiting coaching booth with offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and offensive line coach Jim Turner, but it's unclear where Chatman and Livingston would work Sunday. Assistant wide receivers coach Troy Walters took Bicknell's spot.
Two Bengals practice squad cornerbacks, Winston Rose and Brian Allen, are on the Covid list, as is backup tackle Fred Johnson.
