CLEVELAND, Ohio — Look, you watched the Browns lose on Sunday to the Jets less than 24 hours after they lost five players, including four wide receivers, to contact tracing and a sixth to a positive COVID-19 test. Then they add Andrew Sendejo, Harrison Bryant and Karl Joseph to the reserve/COVID-19 list to start their week. Then they have to close the facility on Wednesday after a practice squad player and coach tested positive for COVID.
So its fair to be a little overwhelmed if youre a Browns fan staring at your team about to play essentially a do-or-die game against the Steelers on Sunday.
Things can certainly go sideways over the next few days — its always day-to-day when it comes to COVID, as we learned on Saturday night. Maybe we get more news on Thursday or Friday and then it might be time to clench your teeth a little tighter.
But for now it might be wise to take a deep breath because theres actually more good news than bad. Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge are on track to return on Thursday. Wyatt Teller and Jedrick Wills were at practice on Wednesday. Safety Ronnie Harrison was activated.
If you take a step back — and mix in one, big knock on the nearest wooden object you can find — things are trending the right way for the Browns as they head into their biggest game of the season. Their key position group, the offensive line, is trending towards being intact. They should have their receivers back. Their defense, should get a boost with Harrisons return.
Even Baker Mayfield found the positive in the facility closing Wednesday and players not being able to practice.
It is not as critical (to have players at practice) it being just Wednesday today, he said. We were still able to get all of our mental stuff during the day and able to get a little bit physical stuff, get some timing down and we will have the film for those guys to be able to watch and look at. It is not going to affect our preparation at all. Just hoping that the negative tests keep coming in and we can get them in the building tomorrow.
Maybe this post wont age well by midday Thursday, but for now, take a deep breath and look at the way things are trending, at least for now. The Browns might just be OK.
Mary Kay Cabot, Scott Patsko and I talked about the good news the Browns have going in their favor as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursdays Orange and Brown Talk Podcast. Then, they discuss what this game means for Baker Mayfield and do some over/unders for the game.
Use the player below or click here to listen.
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As Browns navigate COVID-19 issues, there’s good news heading into their regular season finale – cleveland.com
