CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns preparations for Sunday's AFC Wild Card game in Pittsburgh remain on hold, or in virtual video reality following more positive COVID-19 tests.
Safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. and practice squad linebacker Montreal Meander were placed on their respective Reserve/COVID-19 lists by the team Thursday afternoon.
Harrison will not play and the Browns currently have a total of seven players, including five starters on Reserve/COVID-19: left guard Joel Bitonio, tight end Harrison Bryant, receiver KhaDarel Hodge, cornerbacks Kevin Johnson and Denzel Ward as well as Malcolm Smith.
Safety Andrew Sendejo was activated from Reserve/COVID-19 Thursday.
The training complex in Berea remains closed Thursday and the team was unable to practice for a second straight day as the organization awaits guidance from the league office as to if and when they can take the field together.
Dr. Allen Sills told NFL Network Thursday that, “there was some spread one individual to another” in this latest round of testing and contact tracing.
The Browns are scheduled to play in their first playoff game since January 2003 Sunday night in Pittsburgh but they are unable to practice. quarterback Baker Mayfield has yet to throw a football this week.
Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach Sunday night in Pittsburgh in place of Kevin Stefanski and he can't even get the team on the field.
“I'm both honored and humbled to have this opportunity, but make no mistake this is Kevin's team,” Priefer said. “He's laid a foundation of a smart, tough, accountable, resilient team. Our fans deserve our best effort and that's what we plan on giving them.”
Mayfield and the Browns continue roll with the punches and adapt to what continues to be difficult circumstances that pour a cold bucket of water on what was supposed to be an exhilarating week.
“It won't have an impact,” Mayfield said.
The Browns held a virtual walk through on Wednesday while their building remained closed as a precautionary measure after five tested positive Tuesday including Stefanski, two assistant coaches as well as Bitonio and Hodge.
Stefanski continues to do all he can to work with Priefer, his staff and the team on preparations for Sunday night’s Wild Card playoff game.
“Kevin is still handling the head coaching duties,” Priefer said. “Up until kickoff he will do so.”