Out of the cellar: Coach returns after virus bout

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski doesn’t plan a trip downstairs to his basement anytime soon.

“Those walls were closing in on me,” he said.

Stefanski returned to the team’s facility Thursday, 10 days after the first-year coach tested positive for COVID-19 and he was forced to miss the Browns’ playoff win over Pittsburgh last week.

Instead of being on the Heinz Field sideline, Stefanski was 135 miles away in his Ohio home, where he nervously paced in front of his TV as Cleveland built a 28-0 lead and held on for a 48-37 victory — the team’s first in the postseason in 26 years.

Stefanski will make his playoff debut on the sideline Sunday when the Browns play at defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City.

The 38-year-old, who said he had only mild virus symptoms, is in his first season at Cleveland after 13 years as a Minnesota assistant. His steadiness has been credited in the team maneuvering around many issues tied to the pandemic as well as injuries.

■ Rams: Quarterback Jared Goff will start Saturday, John Wolford will be inactive, and Blake Bortles will back up Goff, coach Sean Mcvay said. Wolford started Los Angeles’ past two games but sustained an early neck injury last week. Goff sat out in Week 17 with a broken right (throwing) thumb.

■ Panthers: Seattle vice president of football operations Scott Fittererwashiredasgeneralmanager.

The 47-year-old had been with the Seahawks since 2001 with a primary focus on evaluating college talent.

■ Steelers: The contracts of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and secondary coach Tom Bradley won’t be renewed, and James Daniels retired after 17 seasons as tight ends coach.

■ Lions: Los Angeles Rams director of college scouting Brad Holmes washiredasgeneralmanager.the 41-year-old had been with the Rams for 18 seasons and led their scouting department for the past eight.

■ Saints: Running back Latavius Murray (quadriceps) and utility player Taysom Hill (knee) have yet to practice this week.

■ Chiefs: Running back Clyde Edwards-helaire (hip) and wide receiver Sammy Watkins (calf ) did not practice.

■ Bills: Wide receivers Stefon Diggs (oblique) and Cole Beasley (knee) were removed from the injury report.