NFL tries to dodge virus, reach finish
Cleveland cancels practice as postseason spot is up for grabs
CLEVELAND — The Browns ended 2020 without practicing for their first game in 2021. COVID-19 has Cleveland’s playoff hopes in peril.
Issues with the virus intensified Thursday for the Browns as top cornerback Denzel Ward and linebacker Malcolm Smith tested positive and were ruled out for Sunday’s game. The team also canceled practice as it prepares to face the Pittsburgh Steelers — with a playoff spot up for grabs.
The latest positive tests forced the Browns to initially close their facility to do close contact tracing. However, after consulting with the NFL, the team decided to call off practice days before it biggest game in years for “the health and well-being of our players, coaches and staff.”
Despite the new cases, Sunday’s game at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium remains on schedule, according to an NFL spokesman. The league is closely monitoring the Browns’ situation and overseeing standard contact tracing.
The Browns aren’t the only team wrestling the virus in the last week of the regular season:
— Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who came off the bench to rescue the Dolphins last week, will miss Sunday’s regular-season finale at Buffalo as Miami tries to clinch a wild-card berth.
— Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list, joining receiver Cooper Kupp ahead of the Rams’ season finale against Arizona. Cardinals safety Chris Banjo will not play Sunday after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
— The Atlanta Falcons will be without center Alex Mack. He went on the COVID-19 list after the team stopped all in-person work at its practice facility on Thursday.
For the Browns, Ward’s surprising addition to the COVID-19 list has further impacted preparations for Pittsburgh. 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 they’ll have to do it without three defensive starters: Ward, their best defensive back; linebacker B.J. Goodson, the defensive signal caller; and safety Andrew Sendejo.
And with kickoff a few days away and the virus seemingly not under control, it’s possible Cleveland could be down more players.
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.
Ward, a first-round pick in 2018, had recently returned after missing several games with a calf strain. Not only will he sit out against the Steelers, but he could also be lot for Cleveland’s firstround playoff matchup — assuming the Browns get there.
On Wednesday, the Browns only practiced for an hour indoors and coach Kevin Stefanski expressed confidence his team would be ready for the Steelers, who throttled Cleveland 38-7 in October.
“We were able to bring the guys in,” he said. “Had a nice long individual period, had walkthroughs, had some team periods and had some seven on seven. It was brisk. Obviously, we were without a few guys for various reasons so at times.