Cleveland Browns enter playoffs with a deep Vikings connection
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Jan 10, 2021
Cleveland should be psyched about its first playoff game in 18 years, all these different things.
The Cleveland Browns are getting some players back as they prepare to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first playoff game since 2002.
Despite having a losing record, Washington won its division and will host the 11-win Bucs.
Bitonio tested positive Tuesday along with wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, tight ends coach Drew Petzing and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard.
Baker Mayfield should have his main receivers back at his disposal after Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge all were forced to sit out against NY due to COVID-19 contact tracing.
For special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, Sunday's game is a scenario he knew was possible due to the pandemic.
League rules require anyone testing positive to isolate for 10 days.
"Our facility is now closed while contact tracing is taking place", the team said in a statement. "He knows this team very, very well from a roster standpoint but also based on how we play".
GW will pause all team activities and the school said there has been no determination made on future games beyond Saturday's postponed matchup.
Will Juju's words come back to haunt the Steelers?
On Friday, the Browns listed All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett (shoulder) as questionable, but Stefanski said he expects Garrett to play, and the dynamic edge rusher promised to make the most of his playoff debut.
Offensive co-ordinator Alex Van Pelt will assume play-calling duties.
The best plan to attack Cleveland is to mitigate its run game and force Mayfield into uncomfortable spots, which the Steelers are well-equipped to do Sunday.
Stefanski said WR Donovan Peoples-Jones "is progressing" through concussion protocol. "I can't even remember", said Rodgers, who believes part of that has to do with the off-season work he put in, plus the fact he was sacked just 20 times. "That's not my charge".
Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles started in the FA Cup match against Arsenal on Saturday, after about six weeks on the sidelines with a bad case of COVID-19.
Defender Matthijs De Ligt is the third Juventus player to test positive for COVID-19 in a week. Garrett has had a hard time shaking the illness and recently said he was still undergoing breathing treatments. The 30-year-old Vernon is in his last season under contract with the Browns, who acquired him before last season from the New York Giants in the trade that featured wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. He endured the 0-16 season in 2017 and numerous coaching and front-office changes only to have COVID derail his dreams. He had played in 12 games this season, starting seven after Devin Bush went out with a season-ending knee injury. "You want to do it?' I said, 'Absolutely'". Basically, it's survival of the fittest in this National Football League season, and all the 14 teams left can do is hope they can avoid major setbacks that could derail any hopes of holding the Lombardi trophy. Detroit interim coach Darrell Bevell sat out the Lions' Dec. 26 game at Tampa Bay because of COVID-19 protocols.
One of those coaches is defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who is, yep, another former Viking.