Minnesota defensive coordinator Joe Rossi to miss Illinois game after positive COVID-19 test

The Minnesota Golden Gophers, responsible for what is, statistically speaking, the Big Ten's worst defense, will be without their defensive coordinator for Saturday's game at the Illinois Fighting Illini. 

According to Megan Ryan of the Star Tribune and other outlets, Minnesota coordinator Joe Rossi tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and had that result confirmed with a polymerase chain reaction follow-up. Per Big Ten guidelines, Rossi must isolate for a minimum of 10 days and then produce negative test results while reporting no symptoms before he's welcomed back to football activities.

Minnesota faces the Iowa Hawkeyes on Nov. 13. 

No other Minnesota coach has yet tested positive as of Thursday afternoon. Joe Harasymiak, Minnesota's co-defensive coordinator who primarily works with the team's defensive backs, will serve as interim coordinator and call plays against Illinois. 

Minnesota lost to the Michigan Wolverines 49-24 in its season opener and then fell to the Maryland Terrapins in overtime last Friday. The defense of the Golden Gophers surrendered 675 offensive yards to Maryland and currently sits dead last in the conference with 578.0 offensive yards allowed per game. 

Both Minnesota and Illinois are giving up 309.5 yards in the air per contest after two weeks.