The Cleveland Browns closed their facility for the second time in five days due to positive COVID-19 tests within the organization. A practice player and coach tested positive on Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said, and the team is conducting contract tracking.
There are now 10 players on the Browns’ COVID-19 list, although up to seven are expected to return to training on Thursday. The Browns will play their AFC North rivals Pittsburgh Steelers in a win-and-in game to advance to the playoffs on Sunday.
Browns who missed the Jets game expected so in week 17
Up to seven Browns players who missed the Week 16 loss to the New York Jets are expected to return to training this week, Stefanski said. Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, KhaDarel Hodge and Jacob Phillips are the five expected to be removed from the reserve / COVID-19 list on Thursday. Harrison Bryant and Karl Joseph could also be removed from the list.
Wyatt Teller and Ronnie Harrison will both train on Wednesday when the team is approved by the NFL league offices. You’re both hurt. And rookie offensive lineman Jedrick Wills is expected again after an illness.
The Browns learned of a positive test on Saturday that saw four recipients and two starting linebackers put on the reserve / COVID-19 list. The news came as they were preparing to fly to New York, and it forced their flight to be four hours late.
The Jets created a 23:16 surprise, and the Browns couldn’t get their first playoff spot since 2002.
Steelers, Brown’s trainers bring up the Rudolph Garrett helmet incident
Cleveland Browns broad receiver Jarvis Landry is expected to be back in training after being in close contact with a player who tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo / Ben Margot)
The Browns (10-5) host the Steelers (12-3) in the regular season finale. Pittsburgh won the AFC North last week and can’t finish lower than number 3, so coach Mike Tomlin is resting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
The story goes on
That means Mason Rudolph will direct the offense. The last time Rudolph started against the Browns, the game ended with the Browns stars defensive end, Myles Garrett, punching him in the head with the quarterback’s own helmet. Garrett was suspended indefinitely after the November 2019 game.
Both coaches were understandably asked about the situation. Stefanski only said that his team is “far behind” the incident.
Tomlin said there was “no need” to deal with it and the organization was past it.
“It’s so far in our rearview mirror that we can’t see it,” said Tomlin of Mary Kay Cabot at Cleveland.com.
“We left ’19 in ’19,” he said. “From my or our point of view there is no residue from it.”
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