CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Long snapper Charley Hughlett was able to avoid the reserve/COVID-19 list and was cleared to return to the facility Thursday.
Hughlett along with kicker Cody Parkey and right tackle Jack Conklin were slated to be placed on the list Wednesday after it was determined the three were high-risk close contacts of someone who tested positive for the virus.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski believes Conklin and Parkey could be cleared to return on Saturday.
“It is just day by day and making sure we are following the rules,” Stefanski said.
If Parkey is not cleared, Matt McCrane, who is on the practice squad, would be elevated to kick Sunday.
“The great thing is, our personnel people and myself, we’ve had a plan in place since July if something crazy like this happened,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. “As I told Coach Stefanski the other day, we’re not going to bat an eye. We’ve got a plan and we’ve got to go execute the plan.
“If we don’t have Cody, we’ve got to be ready to go. And if Cody can come back Sunday morning, we’ll be ready to go. Either way we’re not pressing the panic button, we just go out and do our deal and Matt will be fine. Matt will do a great job for us if he has to play on Sunday.”
Garrett on Track – Defensive end Myles Garrett, who is out with an illness, could be cleared to return Friday according to Stefanski.
“With all of this, you just have to follow the protocols,” Stefanski said.
The Browns have been operating within the NFL’s intensive protocols since a staffer tested positive Oct. 31 and on Wednesday the NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams informing them all teams will operate with in intensive protocols for the remainder of the season beginning on Saturday s COVID-19 cases spike around the country.
“In a lot of ways, we are very used to it,” Stefanski said. “The guys are also used to the schedule changing every other day, it feels like. Again, I think that has just has made sure that our guys understand that they have to be on their toes and that there are going to be some curveballs coming their way and they can’t blink, and they have not. In terms of the intensive protocol, it is kind of what we are used to. A lot of virtual teaching. We are not having any of those meetings in house anymore or out on the field. Guys are wearing the Oakley face shields and masks obviously. For us, it is very much business as usual.”
Freak Out – Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer admitted he understands fans’ concerns with Donovan Peoples-Jones in the return game.
Last week’s muffed kick return that pinned the Browns at their own 4 late in the fourth quarter is exhibit A.
“I am with the fans sometimes and I freak out a little bit too,” Priefer said. “Obviously, the game last week was a tough play. I think as a young player, no matter what position you play, you need experience. Practice is one thing. Watching it on tape is another thing. We do countless reps of punt returns and kickoff returns before and after practice or during practice of catching punts and putting him in different situations and moving him around.
“The situation on Sunday, we practiced that countless times. I think the only way those guys get better at that stuff is to experience it in. Yes, there are some growing pains with any young returner, and I feel their pain and I get it. We just have to keep coaching him. That is who we have right now, and we just have to keep working.”
Peoples-Jones is averaging 21.1 yards per kickoff return and 5.8 on punt returns this season.
Injury Report – DNP: DE Myles Garrett (illness), LB Mack Wilson (hip); LIMITED: LG Joel Bitonio (elbow), DT Sheldon Richardson (knee), RG Wyatt Teller (calf), C JC Tretter (knee/not injury related); FULL: WR Jarvis Landry (hip), LB Jacob Phillips (knee), LB Sione Takitaki (hand), LS Charley Hughlett (not injury related)
