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The Cleveland Browns will likely be without wide receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, and Donovan People-Jones against the New York Jets Sunday afternoon, due to exposure to COVID-19, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting.
Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and Donovan People-Jones have been deemed High-Risk-Close-Contacts, per @mortreport and me. Browns awaiting further instruction but all three now could be out Sunday vs. Jets. https://t.co/TyMsq3IPhV
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2020
While the Browns and Jets were initially concerned the game would have to be postponed, the match does appear set to move forward, though Cleveland will be without their most important playmakers in the passing game. Only a game back in the loss column of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the lead in the AFC North, the Browns are looking to clinch what would be their first postseason appearance since 2002.
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Though it is unclear from where the outbreak stemmed, Cleveland announced Saturday that they would be delaying their flight to New York and conducting contract tracing to limit any spread after a player tested positive for the Coronavirus. Additionally, they revealed that linebacker B.J. Goodson would be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after receiving a positive test result, however, they did not specify if he was the individual that caused the initial delay.
Looking to secure their 11th win victory of the season, the Browns were heavy favorites against the Jets before the news of the COVID-19 outbreak. While the Browns will retain their favored status against a team that won their first game of the season only a week ago against the Los Angeles Rams, it will be to a lesser degree without their wide receiving corps.
For a franchise that hasn't tasted much success over the past two decades, it's doubtful even a COVID-19 outbreak will dampen the enthusiasm in Cleveland.
