CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, two assistant coaches and two players tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday.
Left guard Joel Bitonio and receiver KhaDarel Hodge were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday afternoon.
The Associated Press reported that tight ends coach Drew Petzing and DB coach/passing game coordinator Jeff Howard also tested positive Tuesday.
The team issued the following statement Tuesday morning:
“The Cleveland Browns were informed this morning that Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, two additional members of the coaching staff and two players have tested positive for COVID-19. Our facility is currently closed while contact tracing is taking place. The team will continue to consult with the league and medical experts to determine the appropriate next steps as the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff and the entire community remains our highest priority. Our contingency planning calls for Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer to serve as the acting Head Coach.”
The positive tests mean that Stefanski, Petzing, Howard, Bitonio and Hodge will not be available for Sunday night's AFC Wild Card game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
As of now, barring a viral outbreak within the team, which means evidence of virus transmission within the team, Sunday's playoff game is on as scheduled.
Any high-risk close contacts found Tuesday could still play Sunday should they continue to test negative for five consecutive days.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call plays Sunday in place of Stefanski.
Prior to the start of training camp, Stefanski put in place contingency plans should something like this occur.
Priefer, a Cleveland native, worked with Stefanski in Minnesota and was an interim coach for one game in 2016 when Mike Zimmer underwent eye surgery.
Last week the NFL said that the Browns had been avoiding spread of the virus within the team, and positive cases were a result of community spread.
Cleveland's facility had to be closed temporarily three times in four days last week.
The Browns beat the Steelers 24-22 Sunday to clinch their first playoff berth in 18 years.