Just when it appeared the Pittsburgh Steelers would make it through to the end of their season without another coronavirus-related issue, the status of their regular-season finale was — at least temporarily — put into question.
The Steelers’ opponent for their 1 p.m. Sunday game, the Cleveland Browns, announced late Wednesday morning a player and staff member have tested positive for covid-19 and the team facility was closing for contact tracing.
But the facility reopened in time for a 4:30 p.m. practice, and Cleveland.com reported Sunday’s game “is in no jeopardy” of being postponed. The NFL has played the vast majority of its games as scheduled this season, with only a handful of postponements.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed to Cleveland reporters Wednesday the staff member was a coach and said the team has contingency plans for replacing him.
Our facility is currently closed while contact tracing is taking place. pic.twitter.com/e3Lae3eS5G
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 30, 2020
The full statement released by the Browns: “This morning, the Cleveland Browns were informed that a player and staff member have tested positive for covid-19. The Browns facility is currently closed while contact tracing is taking place to identify any high-risk close contacts. The team will continue to work remotely and follow the NFL-NFLPA intensive protocols as the health and safety of our team, staff and the entire community is our highest priority.”
The NFL Network reported the Browns learned of the tests overnight Tuesday into Wednesday and the player is on the practice squad. Practice-squad center Javon Patterson went on the team’s covid list later in the day, bringing the total number of players on it to 11 (nine from the 53-man roster and two from the practice squad).
Most of those who were placed on the covid list were out of respect of being deemed a dangerous close contact should be cleared to come off the list well before Sunday’s game — assuming they are continuing to test negative. Among those are Cleveland’s top four wide receivers and left tackle Jedrick Wills, who were among the seven Browns who missed this past Sunday’s game at the New York Jets because of covid issues. Their absences contributed to their 23-16 loss to the one-win Jets.
Stefanski had little update on the situation when he spoke remotely with Pittsburgh reporters just before noon Wednesday, though he did indicate Wills would play against the Steelers.
“I m just taking it hour by hour,” he said.
The Steelers have been affected by covid-related schedule adjustments more than perhaps any other NFL team this season. Their Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans was postponed three weeks after the Titans had an outbreak. That caused a game at the Baltimore Ravens to be bumped back a week, and the Thanksgiving Day rematch with Baltimore was postponed for six days after an outbreak on the Ravens. The Steelers’ scheduled game after that against Washington was bumped back one day, as well.
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