CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns have a more formidable opponent than Steelers Week: the COVID-19 reserve list.
On Tuesday, they added three more players to the roster for a total of nine: tighthead Harrison Bryant, free safety Andrew Sendejo and strong safety Karl Joseph.
But everything could be back for the Steelers game that was a win-and-win game Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium, except for BJ Goodson and Sendejo.
Bryant and Joseph are both in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus and could possibly return in time for the game, in which the Bruines can score a playoff spot with a win. Bryant is a close contact with someone outside the building, and Joseph is presumably a close contact with someone inside the organization who tested positive.
It is suspected that none of them are in close contact with the lineout player Goodson, who tested positive on Saturday and had five close contacts in the team. He will miss his second consecutive game on Sunday.
Sendejo will also not be available for the Steelers game, which means he may have tested positive for the virus based on the time frame. Players who have close contact must remain isolated for at least five days from the first day of exposure and may return on the sixth day provided they continue to test negatively.
Players who test positive for the virus should be isolated for a minimum of ten days.
The three new additions join receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge, and linebackers Goodson and Jacob Phillips. a chance to clinch a playoff spot.
The list increases as the Browns prepare for their near-win showdown against the Steelers on Sunday. If the Browns win, they will reach their first playoff spot since 2002, the longest drought in the NFL. If they lose, they will have to hope the Colts lose to the Jaguars or rely on one other scenario to get in.
All nine players on the list contribute to the most important contributors and most start. The Browns are also awaiting the return of left-back Jedrick Wills Jr., who was ruled out of Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Jets due to illness, despite testing negative.
Of the Saturday group, all but Goodson are in close contact with high risks and could return to the Browns facility on Thursday if they remain negative. This means that Landry, Higgins, Peoples-Jones, Hodge and Phillips could all be at the time, and that Bryant and Sendejo are likely to be eligible by Saturday.
Brown’s defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi acknowledges the extent of Goodson’s loss, citing defensive signals and leading the team with 91 tackles.
“It’s definitely a presence,” Ogunjobi said. ‘BJ is our caller. He lets the fire go like this and names the plays for us. He was definitely missed yesterday. I need to talk to him today. It was just one of those things where we always have the next man-up mentality, and the guys just have to pull together and find a way to get it over with.
‘It’s hard when you miss one of your key pieces, but he does not want us to waste just because he’s gone. We can not do that. ”
He said Goodson feels better.
“It sucks,” Ogunjobi said. ‘It’s just one of those things where it’s just a rough situation. I know where his heart is, I know where his mind is and I know he wants to do everything in his power to help us win games. This is just one of the things that just happens to happen. We just have to roll with it again. We love him. We’re just going to keep going. ”
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that contact with Goodson took place in the recovery pool area at the Browns facility, where the hot and cold baths are located. Video also showed a meeting with one of the players where a mask was not worn properly.
Coach Kevin Stefanski, who lost six key players the day before the Jets game, came down hard on the players over the following protocols.
“I’m not going to discuss details,” he said. “But it’s something I definitely addressed with the team and with the players, and we absolutely have to learn from it.”
Luckily for the Browns, they could have the safety of Ronnie Harrison this week against his shoulder injury, and right-back Wyatt Teller from his high ankle strain.
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New Browns face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Browns-themed face masks for coronavirus protection for adults and teens, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a 3-pack ($ 24.99). All NFL proceeds were donated to CDC Foundation.
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