Browns hit hard by the coronavirus
Keeping an eye on the world of sports during the pandemic:
The Browns are trying to shake free from COVID-19 to face the Steelers.
It hasn’t been easy.
The Browns’ issues with the virus intensified Thursday as top cornerback Denzel Ward, above, and linebacker Malcolm Smith were placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and the team was forced to close its facility before canceling practice with the franchise’s biggest game in decades coming fast.
Ward’s surprising addition — he’ll miss Sunday’s game — has further impacted preparations for the Steelers. If they win, the Browns (10-5) will make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and end the NFL’s longest current playoff drought.
But the Browns will now be missing their best defensive back and at least two other defensive starters. And with kickoff a few days away and the virus seemingly not under control, it’s possible the Browns could be down even more players.
To this point, the game will go on as scheduled, according to an NFL spokesman. The league is closely monitoring the Browns’ situation and overseeing standard contact tracing.
While Ward is lost for at least this week, the Browns did get back star Jarvis Landry and three other receivers who missed last week’s game. Rookie linebacker Jacob Phillip was also activated.
After waiting several hours for permission from the league to re-open their building, the Browns announced that it would remain closed throughout New Year’s Eve for the “health and well-being of our players, coaches and staff.”
The Browns will continue to work remotely and are hoping to be back in their headquarters on Friday for practice. They’ve only practiced for an hour on the field so far this week.
Last weekend, after a positive test led to players being ruled out because of high-risk close contact with linebacker B.J. Goodson, the Browns were missing eight rotational players, including their top four wide receivers, and lost 23-16 to the Jets.
Cleveland also has an unidentified assistant coach who tested positive this week.