Virus continues to impact final weeks of NFL regular season
Baker Mayfield moved a step closer to playing against Aaron Rodgers on Christmas as the Cleveland Browns activated their quarterback from the COVID-19 reserve list Friday before leaving for Green Bay.
Meanwhile the virus continued to wreak havoc across the league, forcing teams to make adjustments in the season’s final weeks.
Indianapolis All-pro guard Quenton Nelson and Jacksonville pass rusher Josh Allen were the most notable new names to go on reserve/covid-19 lists Friday.
Mayfield won’t be cleared until Saturday, when his 10-day quarantine expires. Per NFL rules, Cleveland was required to put Mayfield on its roster by 4 p.m. in order for him to be eligible. Along with Mayfield returning, the Browns will break in a brand new kicker. Struggling Chase Mclaughlin, who has missed five of his last 11 field-goal tries, was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list shortly before the team departed Cleveland. Rookie Chris Naggar was elevated from the practice squad to kick against the Packers. Also, the Browns activated top wide receiver Jarvis Landry, backup QB Case Keenum, cornerback A.J. Green and defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo.
The Dallas Cowboys added two more players to the list.
Nickel cornerback Jourdan Lewis and rookie wide receiver Simi Fehoko learned on Christmas Eve they all but certainly won’t play Sunday. Fehoko didn’t test positive until Friday.
In addition to Allen, the Jaguars will be without receiver Laviska Shenault and guard Ben Bartch for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets after the trio went on the list.
The Jets, who have been hit hard this week by the coronavirus, activated wide receiver Jeff Smith and special teams ace Justin Hardee from the COVID-19 list. New York still has 18 players on the list.
Saints linebacker and defensive captain Demario Davis was among four players placed on New Orleans’ growing COVID-19 reserve list, which now includes 15 players.
The others added to the list on Friday were right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, reserve running back Dwayne Washington, and safety J.T. Gray, who was selected for the Pro Bowl as a special teams player.
Buffalo placed Gabriel Davis on its reserve/covid-19 list, leaving the Bills without another key receiving threat for Sunday’s big game against the Patriots.
Washington’s Everett involved in fatal crash: A passenger in a car driven by Washington Football Team safety Deshazor Everett was killed when the vehicle slammed into several trees and rolled over, authorities said.
The passenger — Olivia S. Peters, 29, of Las Vegas — died at a hospital after Thursday night’s crash along a road near Aldie, Va., according to the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office. Everett, 29, of Brambleton, Va., was being treated at a hospital for injuries that were serious but not life-threatening.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation on Friday. No charges were immediately filed, said sheriff ’s office spokesman Kraig Troxell.
Everett, 29, was placed on the team’s reserve/non-football injury list. Everett is in his seventh season after going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2015.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL No. 5 UCLA men postpone 2 games
No. 5 UCLA’S men’s basketball home games against No. 6 Arizona on Dec. 30 and Arizona State on Jan. 1 were postponed Friday because of an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak within the program.
Elsewhere, Maryland announced that its Dec. 28 game against Loyola (Md.) has been called off due to COVID-19 issues within the Loyola program.