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CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns had no new constructive COVID-19 exams this morning after conducting some fast exams within the morning to verify it was protected to play towards the Steelers, and it’s recreation on at 1 p.m.
The Browns, who arrived at FirstEnergy Stadium shortly earlier than 11 a.m. after they acquired the inexperienced gentle from the NFL, have an opportunity to snap their 17-year playoff drought with a victory. The no new positives was a reduction contemplating the occasions of the week.
At about 8:30 Saturday night time, they positioned cornerback Kevin Johnson on the COVID-19 reserve listing, the place he joins beginning cornerback Denzel Ward and 4 others who will all need to miss the Steelers recreation.
The others are linebackers B.J. Goodson and Malcolm Smith, security Andrew Sendejo, and tight finish Harrison Bryant. It’s unknown but if Johnson is constructive or if he’s a detailed contact. If he’s constructive like the opposite 5, he’d need to isolate for at the least 10 days and would miss the wild-card spherical subsequent weekend if the Browns make the playoffs.
Johnson possible would have began the sport instead of Ward, who examined constructive for the virus on Thursday. Ward, the Browns’ second-best defensive participant behind Myles Garrett, is not going to solely miss Sunday’s win-and-in recreation towards the Steelers, he additionally might miss the primary playoff recreation subsequent weekend no matter it’s in on Saturday or Sunday.
The Browns referred to as up undrafted rookie A.J. Inexperienced to happen Johnson’s place on the roster. Inexperienced (6-2, 198) was signed by the Browns out of Oklahoma State, and he’s spent the season on the apply squad.
Johnson’s addition to the listing continues a season-long revolving door within the Browns defensive backfield. Sendejo and Ward examined constructive this week, and security Karl Joseph was activated off the reserve listing as a contact of Sendejo’s and can play Sunday.
Saturday was one other tumultuous COVID-19 day for the Browns total. They needed to shut down their facility within the morning for the third time in 4 days when a second assistant coach examined constructive. Later, the Browns introduced that offensive line coach Invoice Callahan and his assistant line coach Scott Peters will each miss the sport due to COVID-19 protocols.
Callahan examined constructive and is in jeopardy of lacking the wild-card spherical. Peters was a detailed contact and could possibly be again. They be part of receivers coach/passing recreation coordinator Chad O’Shea as out for the Steelers.
The Browns, who could make the playoffs for the primary time since 2002, stored their facility closed on Saturday and carried out their walk-through nearly.
They acquired 5 gamers again on Thursday from the COVID-19 reserve listing in receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge, and linebacker Jacob Phillips.
But when they preserve dropping defensive backs, they’ll make issues simpler than they hoped on backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, who will nonetheless have talent gamers reminiscent of receivers Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson, and tight finish Vance McDonald.
The Steelers had some vital COVID-19 woes of their very own Saturday with beginning cornerback Joe Haden, tight finish Eric Ebron and linebacker Cassius Marsh being positioned on the COVID-19 reserve listing and dominated out for the sport.
That was after the Steelers had already determined to relaxation Professional Bowlers Ben Roethlisberger, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Maurkice Pouncey partially as a result of Pittsburgh (12-3) has already clinched the AFC North.
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