BEREA, Ohio – Two days before their first playoff appearance in 18 years, the Cleveland Browns will finally train.
The NFL released the team to train on Friday afternoon for the first time this week. The Cleveland training center has been closed since Tuesday after coach Kevin Stefanski and four other team members tested positive for COVID-19.
Practice on Wednesday and Thursday was canceled as the team remotely prepared for the AFC wild card game on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“We will have to rely on the time and things we have worked on up to this point, with limited repetitions,” said wide receiver Jarvis Landry after Thursday’s training cancellation. “We cannot use this as an excuse. We cannot use this as something that will hinder us. We just have to find a way.”
The Browns, with significantly fewer players, will have to find a way on Sunday. Stefanski, Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio, safety Ronnie Harrison and potentially several other key players will not be traveling to Pittsburgh due to the COVID-19 protocols.
Right-back Jack Conklin missed Friday’s training due to illness and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Defensive side Myles Garrett (shoulder) and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (neck) are also listed as questionable, but Stefanski said he was confident they would play against the Steelers.
Special team coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as head coach on Sunday, while offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will play for Stefanski.
All Browns players tested on Thursday and Friday are negative, with only offensive line assistant coach Scott Peters, who had missed last Sunday’s game because of a close high-risk contact, testing positive for COVID- 19, an ESPN source told Adam Schefter.
Earlier this week, tight end assistant Drew Petzing and defense coach Jeff Howard tested positive for the virus. And last Sunday, against the Steelers, the Browns were without offensive coach Bill Callahan and receiver coach Chad O’Shea, who tested positive last week.
O’Shea is back on the team on Friday, but Callahan and the other assistants who tested positive will not be training on Sunday.
Ryan Cordell will handle the offensive line’s coaching duties in the absence of Callahan, while Callie Brownson will train the tight ends and Brandon Lynch will train the defensive backs.
Instead of driving to Pittsburgh as they usually do, the Browns will fly after Saturday’s walkthrough to reduce the chances of further problems with the COVID-19.
“This is a team that fights,” said Van Pelt on Thursday. “This is a team that is resilient … I feel really good about taking whoever’s left over there to Pittsburgh. I know you’ll make it [our] best.”