SUNDAY’S GAME
Lions at Browns, 1 p.m., Fox, 1290, 95.7 of things at this point in the season, and that’s just part of the deal with living in the NFL world.”
The Browns announced Thursday morning they activated fourth-string running back John Kelly from the reserve/covid-19 list. Kelly returned to practice Thursday afternoon.
Kelly landed on the list on Nov. 8, a day before Chubb and rookie running back/wide receiver Demetric Felton were placed on reserve/covid-19 and two days before backup center Nick Harris wound up on the same list.
Each of the players tested positive for a breakthrough case and missed the Patriots game.
“That’ll help [to get Kelly back],” Van Pelt said. “I think thingsare trending in the right direction for the other guys. Maybe we’ll get to see them later in the weeks as the protocols run out for those guys, so we’re hoping.”
The paths for a vaccinated player to be activated from the COVID-19 list are producing two negative tests separated by 24 hours or being free of symptoms after spending 10 days on the list. Team and NFL doctors must also provide clearance.
Van Pelt said he doesn’t know exactly how Chubb is doing from a conditioning standpoint, but the coach thinks the starting running back would be able to play Sunday as long as he’s activated this week.
“Guys come off the COVID list and play all the time across the league, so if he’s available, I’m sure we’ll be very smart with how we handle his carries,” Van Pelt said. “But he’s obviously a big part of what we do offensively.”
Garrett, Landry return to practice
Defensive end Myles Gar- rett (personal reason), wide receiver Jarvis Landry (knee) and defensive tackle Malik Jackson (knee) returned to practice Thursday.
Receiver Donovan Peoples-jones (groin), center JC Tretter (knee), nickelback Troy Hill (neck), cornerback A.J. Green (concussion) and rookie receiver Anthony Schwartz (concussion) did not practice.
Peoples-jones rode a stationary bike beside the field. He suffered the groin injury in Wednesday’s practice.
Ohio State announced late Thursday it is reducing some football ticket prices for the 2022 season.
The cheapest season ticket available to the public has been reduced to $559 after starting at $710 when a new pricing format was rolled out earlier this year. That does not include an annual per-seat contribution that applies to a majority of seats and varies by location.
The university said single-game prices would also be reduced.
While most of the seats in Ohio Stadium traditionally have gone for the same price, the university is roll- ing out a six-tiered pricing system in 2022.
A season ticket in the least-expensive zone will go for $559, an average of just over $69. From there it goes up to $711 for zone five, $885 for zone four, $1,022 for zone three, $1,151 for zone two and $1,287 for zone one.
Season tickets are set to go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. for a slate that includes visits from Notre Dame, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan as well as Indiana, Rutgers, Toledo and Arkansas State.
The announcement of the price reduction came two days before Ohio State’s last home game of the 2021 season against Michigan State, a season that is certain to see a significant decline in attendance for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is averaging 95,906 fans through six home games this season, down from 103,383 in 2019. (Last year attendance was severely limited by the COVID-19 pan- demic.)
The last time Ohio State failed to draw at least 100,000 fans per game was 2000 when the stadium was in the midst of a multi-year renovation. The Buckeyes averaged 97,757 fans for six home games that year, which included a visit from Michigan.
“We’re grateful for our fans who came back to Ohio Stadium this year to support the Buckeyes,” Ohio State director of athletics Gene Smith said in a statement. “We have an outstanding home schedule next year and we want to help as many fans as possible experience Ohio Stadium and the energy and traditions associated with Ohio State football.”
According to the Associated Press, the price of an Ohio State football ticket went from $43 per game in 2001 to $70 in 2012 via incremental increases.
In 2013, the price for a regular game went up to $79, and the school introduced premium pricing for some games. That year it charged $110 for a ticket to the marquee home game, a visit from Wisconsin, with more games being designed premium games in the following years.
In 2019, single-game tickets ranged from $60 to $198 with an average priceof $117.
Reserve QB reinstated
Jack Miller III was reinstated Thursday after his legal situation was cleared up.
The Buckeyes’ third-string quarterback had been suspended since his arrest for suspected OVI on Nov. 5 near campus.
The 19-year-old pled guilty to reckless operation of a motor vehicle at a hearing Thursday morning in Franklin County Municipal Court, and an additional charge of driving in marked lanes was dismissed.
The Arizona native paid a $150 fine and received four points on his license. He also paid $102 in court costs.
“Ohio State University student-athlete Jack Miller has been reinstated to the Ohio State football team,” the athletics department said in a statement issued Thursday. “The charge issued against him of operating a vehicle while impaired has been reduced to a minor misdemeanor traffic offense. Miller has fulfilled all of the obligations required of him and the legal case is now closed.”