Browns don’t practice as COVID wreaks havoc

CLEVELAND » Baker Mayfield hasn’t thrown a football in four days. The Browns haven’t practiced this week. Cleveland’s return to the NFL playoffs feels cursed. For the second straight day, the team’s headquarters and training facility stayed closed due to a COVID-19 flare-up that has knocked coach Kevin Stefanski out of Sunday night’s game in Pittsburgh and wreaked havoc on the Browns’ preparations.

There seemed to be a possibility the wild-card game could be moved back after Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, told NFL Network “there was some spread from one individual to another” among the Browns.

However, a league spokesman said Thursday there “is no change to the status of the game” at Heinz Field.

49ers pioneering assistant won’t return

Offensive assistant Katie Sowers, the first female coach to make it to the Super Bowl, will not be returning to the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.

A person familiar with the situation said Sowers, 34, will be leaving coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff, where she worked closely with receivers coach Wes Welker. The person spoke on condition of anonymity.

Jets interview former Bengals coach Lewis

NEWYORK» The New York Jets interviewed former Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis for their head coaching vacancy. Lewis is currently on former Jets coach Herman Edwards’ staff at Arizona State as the Sun Devils’ co-defensive coordinator.

Lewis, 62, led the Bengals to the postseason seven times, including five straight years, as coach from 200318 and has a 131-129-3 regular-season mark. But the Bengals were 0-7 under Lewis in the playoffs.

Bills list Diggs, Beasley questionable

ORCHARDPARK,N.Y.» The playing status of the Bills’ two top receivers, Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley, is uncertain for Buffalo’s wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Both were listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis on Thursday.

Coach Sean McDermott provided no definitive update whether either will be able to play in speaking before practice.