CLEVELAND (AP) — For the second straight season, the Cleveland Browns are coping with a serious COVID-19 outbreak throughout their playoff push.
Cleveland’s postseason hopes had been rocked Tuesday when the staff positioned eight gamers, together with prime huge receiver Jarvis Landry, tight finish Austin Hooper and beginning offensive linemen Wyatt Teller and Jedrick Wills Jr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Those gamers will all doubtless miss Saturday’s essential sport towards the Las Vegas Raiders (6-7).
Defensive finish Takk McKinley was additionally positioned on the list with backup guard Drew Forbes, who’s on injured reserve, in addition to receiver/returner JoJo Natson and tight finish Ross Travis from the observe squad.
They be part of tight finish David Njoku, linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and punter Jamie Gillan, who had been additionally positioned on the list and missed Sunday’s 24-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The lack of Landry is very powerful for Cleveland’s sputtering offense. He’s performed nicely recently, catching his first landing move of the season in Sunday’s win in addition to being quarterback Baker Mayfield’s prime goal.
Landry leads the Browns with 38 receptions for 397 yards, and Hooper is second with 33 catches. He additionally caught a TD move towards the Ravens.
The Browns (7-6) are within the thick of a decent playoff race within the AFC and might’t afford any extra losses.
With the quick week, it should be tough for any of the affected gamers to be out there. To be eligible, any vaccinated participant on the COVID-19 list should be asymptomatic and have two unfavourable assessments in a 24-hour interval.
An unvaccinated participant should sit out 10 days.
The Browns had been one of many NFL’s hardest-hit groups by COVID-19 a 12 months in the past. They performed with out star defensive finish Myles Garrett down the stretch; did not have Landry and three other receivers in a December sport at New York and nonetheless managed to finish their lengthy postseason drought.
They had been with out coach Kevin Stefanski and Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio for his or her wild-card win at Pittsburgh after they examined constructive.
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This is nothing new to the Browns, however that does not make it any simpler.
“We’ll get our work in,” Stefanski stated previous to Tuesday’s walk-through. “That’s what we do. We’ve done it before.”
Stefanski was assured his staff may deal with the most recent adversity.
“We’ve got pros,” he stated. “Those guys understand what’s really important is this game on Saturday. It’s a good opponent. It’s an AFC game and we’ve got to come ready to go.”
Stefanski wouldn’t disclose any plans to switch Teller or Wills up entrance. An apparent choice is flexible linemen Blake Hance, who has performed guard and stuffed in for 2020 All-Pro proper Jack Conklin (out for the season) earlier than being changed by rookie James Hudson III final week.
It’s additionally doable common supervisor Andrew Berry will signal free brokers to assist.
The Browns started their quick week by being positioned within the league’s enhanced COVID-19 protocols. Because of the brand new constructive circumstances, they’re holding all conferences just about and personnel should be masked indoors. The staff additionally closed its observe to reporters.
On Monday, the NFL despatched a memo telling groups that front-office workers and other personnel should get a COVID-19 booster by Dec. 27. The requirement comes because the league tries to fight an uptick in constructive circumstances across the league.
“We’ve definitely educated players and staff on the booster,” Stefanski stated. “I’m not going to get into specifics with that. I can tell you I’m boosted because that doesn’t violate any laws.”
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