Crédito: fuente
The Cleveland Browns will be without head coach Kevin Stefanski and four players for the playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of positive tests for the coronavirus.
Stefanski, guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge returned positive tests this week, and cornerbacks Kevin Johnson and Denzel Ward tested positive earlier this month and have not yet been cleared to return. In Stefanski’s place, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as the Browns’ acting head coach Sunday.
Stefanski can’t coach the Browns remotely because the NFL has long disallowed any outside communication into games between kickoff and the final whistle. The first-year coach has been calling plays for Cleveland, so he will be replaced Sunday in that role by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
On Saturday, the Browns activated three players off the covid/reserve list: tight end Harrison Bryant, starting safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. — whose positive test this week was later deemed to be a false positive — and starting linebacker Malcolm Smith. The team said Sunday that Robert Jackson would start in place of Ward and that Michael Dunn would replace Bitonio at left guard.
Cleveland also announced that six players will be inactive for the game: cornerback Brian Allen, wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley, wide receiver Marvin Hall, safety Jovante Moffatt, tackle Alex Taylor and safety Tedric Thompson.
The Steelers’ inactive list includes: defensive end Isaiah Buggs, safety Antoine Brooks Jr., quarterback Josh Dobbs, linebacker Jayrone Elliott, guard Danny Isidora and running back Anthony McFarland.
