An orthopedic implant has a removable handling cover coupled thereto which includes a thin-walled layer extending over a grasping portion of the outer surface. An outer container can sealingly house the orthopedic implant within a sterile environment and support the orthopedic implant in an orientation that presents the handling cover for grasping. A surgeon can manually grasp, handle and manipulate the implant into an implantation position, and remove the handling cover from the implant during implant surgery, and without the need to directly contact any surface of the orthopedic implant itself. Related methods of providing such an implant assembly and of reducing infection from contamination during implantation surgery are also disclosed.