Browns’ Garrett tests positive for COVID-19
Myles Garrett has been slowed down just when the Browns need him most.
Cleveland’s dynamic star defensive end and the NFL’s leader in sacks will miss Sunday’s game against Philadelphia — and maybe more — after testing positive for COVID-19, dealing the Browns a major blow as they try to end an 18-year playoff drought.
“He is a good player,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday. “We know that. We do not want to be without him, but we are.”
The Browns (6-3) won’t have Garrett against the Eagles and there’s no predicting when he'll be back. According to league rules, a player who tests positive for coronavirus can’t return to the team until at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms, plus at least 24 hours after symptoms have passed.
Garrett stayed home from practice Wednesday and Thursday because he was showing symptoms. After facing the Eagles (3-5-1), the Browns will visit Jacksonville on Nov. 29.
Stefanski said he wasn’t sure exactly when Garrett first began experiencing coronavirus symptoms, which would trigger the start to a timeline for his return. The first-year coach added he doesn’t know when Garrett will be available.
Garrett posted on his Instagram account: “Not the news you want to hear but can’t thank y’all enough for the love. This continues to affect us all in so many ways, but we’ll get through it together. Be back soon, Dawg Pound.”
The Browns will have starting right tackle Jack Conklin and kicker Cody Parkey on Sunday after both were activated from the COVID-19 list.
ELSEWHERE
• Bengals: Cincinnati placed running back Joe Mixon on injured reserve with a foot injury. Backup Giovani Bernard will start for the fourth straight game when Cincinnati faces Washington on Sunday. Mixon, a fourth-year player, suffered a right foot injury in the Week 6 loss at Indianapolis and has been week-to-week.
• Jaguars: Jacksonville activated veteran cornerback D.J. Hayden from injured reserve and expects him to play significantly against Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Jaguars waived safety Doug Middleton to make room on the roster. Hayden missed the last three games because of a strained hamstring.
• Raiders: Las Vegas activated seven players off the COVID-19 list after they missed practice this week as “high risk” close contacts to a teammate who had tested positive. Safety Johnathan Abram, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, cornerback Isaiah Johnson, defensive end Arden Key and defensive tackle Kendal Vickers are on target to play Sunday against the Chiefs.
• Rams: As an undrafted free agent claimed off waivers by Los Angeles in 2018, cornerback Darious Williams had a low profile going into this season. “He’s certainly commanding people’s attention now,” defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said. Playing opposite lockdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Williams has intercepted four passes. “He’s electric,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “He’s a playmaker.” Williams, who played high school football in Jacksonville, returns to his home state Monday when the Rams (6-3) play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) on “Monday Night Football.”
• Saints: Running back Alvin Kamara expressed confidence in the Saints’ ability to quickly coalesce around a fill-in quarterback while record-setting, 15-year starter Drew Brees is injured. There is precedent for that. New Orleans went 5-0 in games Teddy Bridgewater started in 2019 while Brees was out with a hand injury. The Saints (7-2), who’ve won six straight, host the Atlanta Falcons (3-6) on Sunday. New Orleans will begin another stint without
Brees, whose ribs were injured on a big hit that forced him to sit out the second half of last week’s win over San Francisco. Stepping in will be former Tampa Bay starter Jameis Winston and change-of-pace option QB Taysom Hill. The Saints placed Brees on injured reserve Friday, meaning he'll miss at least three games.
• Titans: Tennessee outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney has gone on injured reserve as he deals with a knee issue. The Titans placed him on injured reserve Saturday, meaning he must miss at least three games. Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft, hasn’t recorded a sack since signing with the Titans on Sept. 7.