MAYFIELD ACTIVE FOR CLEVELAND, TO PLAY VS. PACK
Baker Mayfield moved a step closer to playing against Aaron Rodgers on Christmas as the Browns activated their quarterback from the COVID-19 reserve list Friday before leaving for Green Bay.
Mayfield has been out since testing positive on Dec. 15, one of a slew of virus cases the past two weeks for the Browns. He missed Monday’s game against Las Vegas as Cleveland started third-string QB Nick Mullens, numerous backups and lost.
Mayfield hasn’t practiced in nearly two weeks, but coach Kevin Stefanski, who returned earlier this week after his second positive test in two seasons, said Thursday he anticipated Mayfield starting against the Packers (11-3) as the Browns (7-7) try to bolster their flimsy playoff chances.
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 that seem to change by the minute.
Losing Nelson is a major blow to the Colts, who are hoping to stay in the AFC South race and play at Arizona today.
Mayfield won’t be cleared until today, when his 10-day quarantine expires. He won’t have to produce a negative COVID-19 test, something he hasn’t done despite being asymptomatic and feeling fine.
Per NFL rules, Cleveland was required to put Mayfield on its roster by 4 p.m. (EST) in order for him to be eligible. He is traveling to Wisconsin separately from the team.
Along with Mayfield returning, the Browns will break in a brand new kicker against the Packers and will be much closer to full strength.
Rookie Chris Naggar was elevated from the practice squad to kick against the Packers.
Foles will start at QB for Bears
Chicago quarterback Nick Foles will start Sunday against the Seahawks at Lumen Field as rookie Justin Fields continues to deal with an ankle injury.
Coach Matt Nagy said earlier in the week that he didn’t think the injury would keep Fields out, but he said Friday that the Bears were putting Fields’ health first in starting Foles instead.
Now Ravens’ Huntley misses practice
Tyler Huntley missed practice Friday for the Ravens with an illness, adding even more uncertainty to the team’s quarterback situation heading into this weekend’s showdown at Cincinnati.
Huntley is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, which pits the AFC North co-leaders against each other.
Lamar Jackson, who missed last weekend’s loss to Green Bay with a sprained ankle, is also questionable after missing practice this week.
Huntley ran the Baltimore offense pretty well last weekend, throwing for two touchdowns and running for two.
If Jackson and Huntley can’t play, the Ravens may need to turn to veteran Josh Johnson (USD), who signed with Baltimore before last week’s game.
Saints’ Book ready to go
New Orleans quarterback Ian Book says that because of the unpredictability of COVID-19, he and fellow reserve QB Trevor Siemian adopted the motto: “Stay ready.”
Now, because of a COVID-19 outbreak infecting at least 15 Saints players and several coaches, Book is on the brink of seeing how ready he really is.
The rookie out of Notre Dame took snaps at practice as New Orleans’ No. 1 QB and is slated to make his NFL regular-season debut as a starter against the Dolphins in the Superdome on Monday.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity,“Book said Friday night. “I don’t know what it’s going to feel like. I’ve played in big games, but I think this is the biggest, obviously. We’re professionals now and this is ‘Monday Night Football’.”