Game vs. Browns still on after positive test
The Texans maintained their normal Friday routine and are set to travel to Cleveland on Saturday after Browns offensive guard Chris Hubbard tested positive for COVID-19.
The Browns briefly shut down their training facility Friday before reopening and practicing after contact tracing was completed.
“Zero high-risk close contacts were identified,” the Browns said in a statement.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email there is “no change to the status of the game.”
A week ago, Texans outside linebacker Jacob Martin tested positive for COVID-19 and linebackers Whitney Mercilus and Dylan Cole missed the Jaguars game as close contacts. Mercilus and Cole have since been activated and Martin remains on the COVID-19 reserve list.
“You have to get ready to play because no game has been canceled,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “They have a positive. They will be doing contact tracing to find out who’s been in close contact and then after that, they’ll make a determination, the league will, about whether the game continues or not.
“In the meantime, we have to prepare like we’re playing, and really hope that we’re playing because we want to play because we’ve been practicing all week. I’m sure they want to play as well, but it’s kind of out of our hands. We’ll do what we normally do until we’re told that we have to do something different.”
The NFL has postponed games until Monday or Tuesday this season when there’s been an outbreak of the virus. For now, it appears that the Browns have contained the situation.
David Johnson out; Duke Johnson to start
Texans starting running back David Johnson officially was ruled out because of a concussion after he didn’t practice Friday, missing his third day in a row.
Duke Johnson will start Sunday against his old team.
The Texans also ruled out offensive guard Senio Kelemete with a concussion.
Defensive end Charles Omenihu (strained hamstring) isn’t expected to play Sunday but is
listed as questionable on the injury report. He didn’t practice all week.
Romeo Crennel said if any of the players didn’t practice Friday, it was unlikely they would play Sunday.
Conley to stay on IR for rest of the season
Cornerback Gareon Conley is expected to remain on injured reserve for the entire season after experiencing complications in his rehabilitation from offseason arthroscopic ankle surgery, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Conley has sought second opinions on his ankle, but continues to experience pain and other issues in what’s been a frustrating situation. Despite a lot of work being done on his ankle, it simply hasn’t responded to multiple treatment methods.
Conley struggled with his flexibility, mobility and pain level during training camp before being placed on injured reserve. He was acquired last year from the Raiders for a third-round draft pick.
Mercilus eager to play after sitting last week
Whitney Mercilus could only watch the Texans beat Jacksonville from his couch a week ago.
Now, the linebacker is back in the lineup Sunday against Cleveland after being activated from the reserve-COVID-19 list. Although Mercilus didn’t test positive, he was determined to be a close contact to outside linebacker Jacob Martin, who tested positive.
“It feels good, I mean, just to be back with the guys just in the locker room and out there competing a little bit and preparing for a game,” Mercilus said Friday. “It was different just taking a seat back, being a coach from the couch, essentially, and having a bird’s-eye view and all that.”
Mercilus has three sacks on four quarterback hits, with one sack nullified because of a penalty.
After a slow start, Mercilus is getting to a point now where he feels more like himself. He’ll split time with rookie Jon Greenard.
“I feel much better, stronger, quicker, more alert,” Mercilus said. “Especially with the time off as well, too.”
Westfield’s Iwuagwu and Scott visit team
Offensive guard Cordel Iwuagwu and wide receiver Artavis Scott are visiting the Texans, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
An undrafted free agent from TCU, Iwuagwu is a Westfield graduate who previously was on the Texans’ practice squad.
A former Chargers and Colts reserve, Scott previously worked out for the Texans this season.