LOS ANGELES _ Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn revealed on the first episode of "Hard Knocks" that he tested positive for the coronavirus.
The moment came Tuesday night during the opening scene of the first episode of the annual HBO series, which this year is featuring the Chargers and Los Angeles Rams.
"I can't promise you you're not going to get infected," Lynn said to a group of his players on a videoconference call. "I got infected."
Later, he explained that his experience began with a slight cough and then moved on to body aches. Lynn has since recovered.
He said he was watching a golf tournament during which one participant withdrew after testing positive. He said the golfer mentioned suffering from symptoms similar to the ones he felt.
"If I hadn't been watching the golf event and saw that golfer complaining about back aches and soreness, I never even would have gotten tested," Lynn said on the show. "I never even would have known it and probably got (other) people infected."
In a conversation with Dr. Herb Martin, the Chargers team psychologist, Lynn was asked how he felt after testing positive.
"The first thing, you feel a little bit like an outcast," Lynn said. "That was probably harder for me than the sickness, feeling like, 'I can't go here or I'm going to infect this person.' All of a sudden, I'm the problem. When you're used to fixing the problem, now I'm the problem."
The Chargers so far have not used the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list, a designation for players who have tested positive or have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive.
