Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, 2 assistants, 2 players test positive for covid-19

When the Pittsburgh Steelers open the playoffs Sunday night, they will be facing a short-handed opponent because of covid-19.

Five days before the Steelers face Cleveland for the third time this season and second time in eight days, the Browns announced head coach Kevin Stefanski, two of his assistants and two players have tested positive, making them ineligible to participate in the AFC wild-card matchup at Heinz Field.

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who has no head coaching experience in college or the NFL, will be the interim head coach for the Browns’ first playoff appearance since 2002.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to the Tribune-Review that the league plans to play the game as scheduled at 8:15 p.m. Sunday.

“There is no change to the status of the game,” McCarthy said.

The Browns have eight players on the reserve/covid-19 list and six coaching staff members remain in quarantine because of positive tests within the past week. Some of those players and coaches could be cleared to return before the playoff game but not those who tested positive Tuesday.

In addition to Stefanski, Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio — the longest-tenured player on the Browns — and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge tested positive, as did tight ends coach Drew Petzing and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard. Per NFL rules, anyone who tests positive must isolate for 10 days and have two negative tests before they can rejoin the team. Those placed on the reserve/covid-19 list because of contact tracing must be out a minimum of five days.

Although the Steelers are just two days removed from playing the Browns in the regular-season finale at FirstEnergy Stadium, coach Mike Tomlin isn’t concerned about any of his players or staff contracting the virus.

“I have complete confidence in the protocol outlined by the NFL,” Tomlin said. “We work hard to adhere to it. I believe if we do that, we’ll minimize the risk. That is my mentality regarding it. I won’t spend a lot of time worrying about those components. That’s not my charge.”

Three Steelers players, including starting cornerback Joe Haden and tight end Eric Ebron, were placed on the reserve/covid-19 list Saturday. Haden tested positive, which likely rules him out from playing Sunday.

Tomlin also kept quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, center Maurkice Pouncey, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and outside linebacker T.J. Watt back in Pittsburgh last Sunday as a precaution against contracting coronavirus.

The NFL has tested players and staff members on a daily basis since training camp began in the summer. Tomlin said the NFL is expanding testing for the postseason to include “spouses, significant others, children, etc.”

“We are not splitting the atom over here in that regard,” he said, “but we are excited about any information or anything we can glean from the NFL office in an effort to keep this group clean or more clean in these circumstances.”

The Browns closed their facility Tuesday and are taking measures to control the spread of the virus.

“We are continuing to conduct standard contact tracing to identify any possible high-risk close contacts,” McCarthy said. “If any players or personnel are identified as such, they would remain apart from the team and facilities for five days from the last exposure to a positive individual. They would be eligible to return to the team and play in the game.”

The Browns clinched their first playoff berth since 2002 with a 24-22 victory against the Steelers on Sunday. Three Browns assistants — offensive line coach Bill Callahan, assistant line coach Scott Peters and wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea — did not coach in the game after testing positive.

The Browns also were without cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson, tight end Harrison Bryant, safety Andrew Sendejo and linebackers B.J. Goodson and Malcolm Smith because of covid-19 concerns.

Yale School of Public Health conducted genomic sequencing on the positive cases on the Browns from last week and found unconnected viruses among the players and staff members. The positive cases Tuesday will receive the same sequencing treatment.

We were informed this morning that Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, two additional members of the coaching staff and two players have tested positive for COVID-19.

Our contingency planning calls for Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer to serve as the acting Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/Mhh9Zt1e4d

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 5, 2021