The Browns experienced some unexpected upheaval en route to New Jersey for Sunday’s game against the Jets. Less than 24 hours before the scheduled start date for Cleveland’s activities at MetLife Stadium, the team announced that delayed your flight after a player tested positive for COVID-19. The Browns also closed their facilities while contact tracking was in progress.
Cleveland is holding meetings remotely, as “it continues to consult with the NFL and medical experts on appropriate next steps, as the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff and the entire community remains our highest priority”.
Arguably even more terrible: all three of the Browns’ biggest wide receivers – Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and Donovan Peoples-Jones – were dropped for the Jets game after landing on the COVID-19 reserve list. Broadouts were initially considered close contacts at high risk for the virus, but are now not eligible to suit.
“The Browns want to rely on the racing game even more than usual in Week 16 with their absences at WR,” said CBS Fantasy analyst Chris Towers, who writes the daily Fantasy Football Today newsletter. “This should mean that your usual 10-15 distribution carries for Kareem Hunt and 15-20 for Nick Chubb, but it should also mean another higher target share for both, especially Hunt, which improves on the RB2 rating in Week 16.
“The same must be true for Austin Hooper and David Njoku, who face an incredible confrontation against a Jets defense that is the worst in the NFL against tight ends. Hooper is a streaming TE that is worthwhile, while Njoku is also worth worth taking a look at deeper leagues. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the Browns may simply decide to run the ball 40 times this week; Baker Mayfield has launched 25 or fewer passes five times and has some serious drawbacks without his main weapons . He goes back to the group QB2. “
Given the time scheduled for early Sunday, currently at 1 pm, the NFL may ultimately change the game to a later date on Sunday in order to give the Browns more flexibility when it comes to travel. Several teams this season traveled on the day of their game due to complications caused by COVID-19. The most recent team to do this was Steelers, who traveled to Buffalo hours before falling for Sunday Night Football accounts.
Earlier this week, the team placed rookie offensive tackle Jedrick Wills and the receiver Ryan Switzer in the reserve list / COVID-19. Earlier this month, the team placed guard Wyatt Teller on their reserve / COVID-19 list. It was activated by the team on December 13.
The Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett, who lost two games after testing positive for COVID-19, said recently that he is still feeling the effects of the virus. Garrett was recently nominated for his second Pro Bowl after registering 11 sacks and four forced fumbles in 12 games.
“He continues to work hard,” receiver Jarvis Landry said recently about Garrett, via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “Even today, he was returning to the quarterback and we are having to stop practicing basically because he is so disturbing. That is part of who he is. He is a tough player, he loves football, he loves this organization and he loves this community.
“This is something he is very proud of. He is playing for everything he is going through, it does not surprise me. Once again, we are grateful to have a guy like this who is willing to put the team ahead of him in a sense, but mostly, we want him to be healthy so he can help us. “
Cleveland (10-4) can guarantee a playoff spot on Sunday, with a win and loss for the Ravens, Dolphins and Colts. If the Browns win and the Steelers fall to the visiting Colts, Cleveland’s visit in Week 17 to Pittsburgh will determine which team will win the AFC North division title. The Browns haven’t made it to the postseason since 2002 and have been looking for the first division title since 1989.