A day after the Brown entered enhanced COVID protocols amid eight players testing positive for COVID-19, two of the biggest names on the team have also been swept up in the outbreak. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has tested positive for COVID-19, as announced by the Browns on Wednesday; and so has quarterback Baker Mayfield, per CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson. Both will be sidelined for Saturday's Week 15 game against the Raiders unless they produce two negative COVID tests before game day.
The Browns now reportedly have 13 active players on COVID reserve: Mayfield, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight ends Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Stephen Carlson, guards Wyatt Teller and Drew Forbes, tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., defensive end Takkarist McKinley, linebacker Anthony Walker, cornerback Troy Hill, safety John Johnson III and punter Jamie Gillan. They also have two practice-squad players on COVID reserve, and more positive tests are expected to surface Wednesday, per NFL Media.
Should Mayfield remain sidelined this weekend, veteran backup Case Keenum would start at QB against Las Vegas. The journeyman previously started in place of an injured Mayfield in Week 7, when he led a 17-14 win over the Broncos.
Stefanski, meanwhile, is fully vaccinated with a COVID booster, the Browns announced, but is required to isolate until testing negative twice, 24 hours apart. He will continue preparing Cleveland for Saturday's game from home, but special teams coordinator Mike Priefer is set to serve as acting head coach against the Raiders in the event Stefanski doesn't return. Priefer is 1-1 as an interim coach during his career, filling in for the Vikings' Mike Zimmer in 2016 and notably leading the Browns' 2020 wild card victory over the Steelers while Stefanski previously battled COVID.
Acting running backs coach Ryan Cordell has also tested positive for COVID, the team announced. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is set to serve as the play-caller against the Raiders.
