Browns’ Bitonio ready to make playoff debut

CLEVELAND — Joel Bitonio’s long playoff wait with the Browns is over.

The Pro Bowl left guard was activated from the COVID-19 list Friday after missing last week’s wild-card win over the Steelers.

The Browns’ longest-tenured player, Bitonio had to isolate at home and missed his first career postseason game — and the Browns’ first since the 2002 season. It was a devastating development for Bitiono, who had endured so much losing with the Browns before this turnaround season.

But he’ll get his long-awaited chance to play in the postseason this week.

The Browns, who stunned the Steelers in the wild-card round, face the Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Sunday in the AFC divisional round.

“Elated for Joel,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Zoom call with local writers. “He’s been here his entire career. He has been a leader, consummate teammate, everything that you could really want out of a player.

“We were all heartbroken when he wasn’t getting the opportunity to play in his first playoff game, so for us to be able to activate him and for him to be able to take his place in the starting lineup this weekend against the Chiefs (is great).”

Fournette gets starting nod: Leonard Fournette played so well against Washington in the wild-card game, he has earned the right to start Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff game in New Orleans in place of ailing running back Ronald Jones.

Coach Bruce Arians called Jones, who has a quad injury that prevented him from playing last week, a “gametime decision,” saying that he is progressing well. Jones was limited in practice Thursday and Friday.

Fortunately, the Bucs have Fournette, who played his best game of the season in the Bucs’ 31-23 win at Washington. He rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on 19 attempts.