CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns have placed offensive lineman Chris Hubbard on the reserve COVID-19 list Friday after a player tested positive for the virus.
The team reopened its Berea, Ohio headquarters Friday afternoon upon the completion of contact tracing which revealed “zero high risk close contacts” according to the team.
“We just try to follow all the protocols to a T,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We met virtually this morning, which we were doing already. We just basically had to push back the day a little bit. Obviously, every single day, it is part of how we operate. I think also a big part of this is not having any high-risk close contact is really a main goal of ours today and moving forward every day. It is something we take very seriously.”
Under guidelines established between the NFL and NFLPA, the Browns are not permitted to disclose or comment on if Hubbard tested positive, but the team did say Friday morning they had a player test positive test resulting in them temporarily closing their facility.
“I just know we have changed the schedule on our players about 500 times so they roll with the punches,” Stefanski said. “They know that is kind of how things go.”
Hubbard started the last three games in place of Wyatt Teller, who was out with a calf strain, at right guard. Teller returned to practice this week and is expected to be back in the line up this week.
The Browns, who remain in the NFL's intensive protocols, are also were able to practice late Friday afternoon.
“This is 2020,” Stefanski said. “Things are going come your way, and you have to react. I think our team is used to that. Like you said, we got our work in and got all the reps we were supposed to get. It just was a little bit darker out there.”
Cleveland is scheduled to host the Houston Texans Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium.
As of Friday evening, no other players are forced to miss the game as a result.
“I think we just have to maintain the diligence that the organization has shown throughout,” Stefanski said. “This is no different than all of the other 31 teams are dealing with things like this and trying to follow the protocols. That is kind of how we take it day by day and make sure we are doing everything we can to keep everybody safe.”