CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) – While the COVID cases pile up, the Browns are keeping their confidence just as high while the backups prepare for lead roles this week.
Backup quarterback Case Keenum helped the Browns pull off a 17-14 win over the Broncos in Baker Mayfield’s absence October 21 after Mayfield suffered a dislocated left shoulder four days earlier in a 37-14 blowout loss to the Cardinals.
He will likely be under center Saturday afternoon against the Raiders and the expectation is he’ll lead them to victory again.
“It is never fun to be in a position where you are ruled out or can’t play,” Keenum said. “Obviously, this is a special circumstance with all of this COVID and it is brand new over the last couple of years. It is never fun, especially when you feel pretty good. That is what is unfortunate.”
Mayfield, head coach Kevin Stefanski, safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill were among the positive tests Wednesday morning. A total of 15 players from the active roster are on the reserve/COVID-19 list and three more are on the practice squad COVID list.
Who will join Keenum on the field remains to be seen with three more rounds of testing awaiting before kickoff.
“I think it really has hit everybody in stride – maybe not the guys who got put on the list – but for the guys who are now really getting an opportunity, I think it is all eyes forward,” Keenum said Wednesday. “Everybody is looking forward. Everybody is ready to go, getting ready to go and doing the best they can. It may be a lot more mental work as we do things more virtually, and everybody has to be a pro and get ready to do their job on their own. We are looking nowhere but forward. We have no time or energy to look behind us.”
The Browns have been here before, and they’ll follow the same blueprint they did last season heading into their playoff game with the Steelers. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will be the acting head coach and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call plays.
Unless Mayfield – and others – test negative twice 24 hours apart Thursday and Friday, they will be out.
“I feel bad for Baker,” Priefer said. “He is the leader of this football team as our quarterback. Losing him hurt.”
Keenum, who has appeared in six games this season, gives Priefer confidence the offense will have no problem functioning Saturday.
“Thank God we have Case Keenum – I will be honest with you – because if you had a real young quarterback, an inexperienced quarterback, it might be tougher,” Priefer, who praised the veteran for leading the Vikings to the playoffs in 2017, said. “Case is going to run the gameplan exactly how it should be run, and I know the whole team has confidence in him.”
Keenum completed 21 of 33 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown against Denver and he has Van Pelt’s support.
“I have the utmost confidence in Case,” Van Pelt said. “He is really a true pro. We are very lucky to have him. He is a guy who can come in and win one game or a bunch of games for you. He has shown that in the past.
Regardless of who he is out there with, we know that the moment will not be too big for him. He has been there before.”
Against the Broncos Keenum didn’t have the luxury of Nick Chubb in the backfield, despite D’Ernest Johnson’s impressive 146 yard and a touchdown performance.
Cleveland will likely employ another run dominant game plan against Las Vegas and suffice it to say, Keenum is looking forward to having the Browns’ best back behind him.
“Yeah, having a full Chubb back there is going to be really good,” Keenum said.