BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns placed linebacker Anthony Walker and punter Jamie Gillan on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
Both will likely miss Sunday’s rematch with the Ravens.
Walker and Gillan join tight ends David Njoku and Stephen Carlson, who was on the practice squad, on the list this week.
Walker has started all nine games he has appeared in this season and leads the team in tackles.
Malcolm Smith, who started the three games Walker was sidelined, will likely start Sunday.
“We have good depth at the position with Malcolm [Smith] and Elijah Lee, and we are still seeing where Jacob [Phillips] is so there are some possibilities there,” defensive coordinator Joe Woods said, “but I just feel comfortable with the guys we will have available.”
The Browns will look at their short list and will sign a veteran punter in time for Sunday’s game.
Special teams coordinator expected to watch tape of the candidates before giving his input to EVP/GM Andrew Berry.
“There are a few [available],” Priefer said. “You always keep a short list. They will have me watch some tape a little bit later today just to kind of compare guys and see what we think. The punting is important, the holding is important and all of that stuff is important.”
Players who are vaccinated and test positive must be symptom free and test negative twice 24 hours apart to be activated by the 4 p.m. eastern Saturday deadline. That means the first negative test must come Friday afternoon.
“A lot of teams face it through injury and through COVID,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. “It is challenging for the staff really to get a plan together and to get your best guys on the field. David was doing a really nice job and has done a nice job for us this season. Anytime you take a piece of that production out, you have to find a way to replace that production.
Hopefully, we get him back ASAP, and we find somebody to take up that production while he is gone.”
Keep ‘em fresh – Fans have been clamoring for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to be used on the field together.
On Wednesday head coach Kevin Stefanski at least pretended to be willing to consider it, but it doesn’t sound like it will happen.
Van Pelt’s turn to explain once again why they won’t use both backs at the same time.
“Obviously, we can do anything. In the system, it has the ability to do that,” Van Pelt said. “I think we feel really comfortable using those guys as the one-two punch and keeping both of those guys fresh throughout the game so we have strong runners in the fourth quarter.”
Sportsman of the Year – For the third straight year the Browns nominated Chubb for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
The next time Chubb, who leads the Browns with six touchdowns this season and is averaging just under 6 yards per carry this season, celebrates a big run, first down or a touchdown will be the first.
The winner will be announced at NFL Honors Super Bowl weekend.
Rock the vote – Browns defensive end Myles Garrett slipped to fifth in overall Pro Bowl voting this week with over 150,000 votes.
Browns left guard Joel Bitonio continues to be the top vote getter at his position with over 78,500 votes.
Bitonio didn’t want to talk much about his prospects to make a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl Thursday.
“We are really focused on the Ravens right now,” Bitonio said. “It is always an honor to be mentioned in that, and it is pretty cool. I think we have a lot of deserving guys who have played well this year, but as a team, we want to play better. That is our main goal right now is to try to find a way to win this week.”
Tom Brady jumped into the top 5 at No. 4 this week while Colts running back Jonathan Taylor remains the top vote getter with over 168,000 votes according to numbers released Thursday by the NFL.
Injury report – DNP: C J.C. Tretter (knee), TE Harrison Bryant (ankle-OUT), DT Malik Jackson (knee), WR Anthony Schwartz (concussion); LIMITED: WR Jarvis Landry (knee), S Ronnie Harrison (ankle), DT Jordan Elliott (knee); FULL: QB Baker Mayfield (foot, left shoulder), LB Sione Takitaki (shoulder)
Up next – Practice Friday.
