Due to COVID-19 protocol, Darrell Bevell won’t be available for Saturday’s game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. WR coach Robert Prince will step in as interim coach for the Detroit Lions.

Reports have circulated all week about the Detroit Lions coaching situation Saturday’s game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Several days ago, reports surfaced that several members and players in the Lions organizations tested positive for COVID-19 or came into close contact with someone with the virus. Those same reports state most of the Lions defensive coaching staff could be absent for the game because of it. 

Nonetheless, the Lions will take the field, and it will be with its third head coach this season. With Darrell Bevell sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols, wide receivers coach Robert Prince will step in as interim head coach. 

Quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan will take over the playcalling duties for the offense. Assistant head coach Evan Rothstein will call plays for the defense. 

What is his coaching background?

When the Lions announced Robert Prince would step in as the interim head coach for Saturday’s game, social media began to buzz about his coaching background.

Well, for those who don’t know, Prince is no stranger to the Lions organization. Along with that, he has experience with several different organizations.

The Lions hired Prince in 2014 as the wide receivers coach, but before that, he held assistant coaching positions with the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Atlanta Falcons. 

Additionally, Prince was the former offensive coordinator (OC) and wide receivers coach for six seasons at Boise State. In his first year under the role, five players from his offense received All-Mountain West honors, en route to an 11-2 record.

While with the Lions, Prince’s influence on the receiving corps is evident in the results. In each of his six seasons in Detroit, a Lions wide receiver has produced a 1,000-yard season. 

And don’t wonder about Bevell’s confidence in Prince. He addressed Prince’s appointment during a Thursday morning press conference.

“Obviously, I think Robert Prince would do a great job in there as well, and that’s why he’s going to be making the decisions on game day and not calling the plays”, said Bevell.

“He’s in that head coach role where [if we are] going for it and those kind of things and those kind of things, ‘Are we going to no-huddle this situation? Are we going to go for it on fourth down? Are we going to do any fakes?’ Those kinds of decisions will come down to Robert.”