CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns just need it to be one o’clock on Sunday afternoon.
At around 8:30 on Saturday night, they placed cornerback Kevin Johnson on the COVID-19 reserve list, where he joins cornerback Denzel Ward and four others, who will have to miss the Steelers game.
The others are linebackers BJ Goodson and Malcolm Smith, safety Andrew Sendejo and tight end Harrison Bryant. It is not yet known whether Johnson is positive or a close contact. If he is positive like the other five, he will have to isolate himself for at least 10 days and will lose the Wildcard round next weekend if the Browns make it to the playoffs.
Johnson probably would have started the game in place of Ward, who tested positive for the virus on Thursday. Ward, the Browns’ second best defensive player, behind Myles Garrett, will not only lose the win and join Sunday’s game against the Steelers, but he may also miss the first playoff game next weekend, regardless of whether it is on Saturday or Sunday.
The Browns summoned newcomer AJ Green to take Johnson’s place on the list. Green (6-2, 198) was signed by the Oklahoma State Browns, and he spent the season on the training team.
Johnson’s addition to the list remains a revolving door throughout the season on the Browns’ defensive field. Sendejo and Ward tested positive this week, and safety Karl Joseph was removed from the reserve list as a contact for Sendejo and will play on Sunday.
It was another tumultuous day at COVID-19 for the Browns in general. They had to close their facilities in the morning for the third time in four days, when a second assistant coach was positive. The Browns later announced that offensive line manager Bill Callahan and his assistant coach Scott Peters will lose the game because of the COVID-19 protocols.
One of them tested positive and could lose the Wildcard round. The other was a close contact. They join the receiver’s coach / passing game coordinator Chad O’Shea to play for the Steelers. Both coaches with a positive test may also lose the playoff game, depending on a variety of factors.
The Browns, who may reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002, kept their facilities closed on Saturday and virtually walked through.
They got five players back on Thursday from the COVID-19 reserve list at recipients Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge, and linebacker Jacob Phillips.
But if they continue to lose their defensive backs, they will make things easier than they expected with reserve defender Mason Rudolph, who will still have skilled players like recipients Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson, and tight end Vance McDonald.
The Steelers had some significant problems with COVID-19 on Saturday, with cornerback Joe Haden, tight end Eric Ebron and linebacker Cassius Marsh being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and discarded for the game.
This was after the Steelers had already ruled out Pro Bowlers Ben Roethlisberger, TJ Watt, Cam Heyward and Maurkice Pouncey, in part because Pittsburgh (12-3) has already won AFC North.
More Browns coverage
Ward tests positive for COVID-19, will lose the Steelers game and possibly the playoff game
NFLPA President JC Tretter calls for an end to NFL off-season practices
How the Browns can take advantage of the Steelers’ defense without TJ Watt: Film Review
Browns canceled training on Thursday due to 2 positive COVID-19 tests
Mayfield was in a ‘moody mood’ and fired ‘a perfect day of practice’, says Van Pelt
Will the Browns control both sides against Pittsburgh? I have to watch the tape
Browns vs. Steelers: forecast survey for week 17
Watch our Football Insider preview program to get ready for the game
LB Smith, TE Bryant test positive, but Landry, Higgins and 3 others activated
Steelers resting Watt, Heyward and Pouncey vs. Browns