Browns player tests positive for COVID-19 and set to not play with Texans; teammates in close contact could also sit



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CLEVELAND, Ohio – An unidentified Browns player has tested positive for COVID-19, and it is highly unlikely that he or anyone who comes into “high risk” contact with him will face the Texans on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

But the game is still ongoing and officials are confident it will be played.

“There have been around 100 instances where a team has had one or more players and staff tested positive and we have not changed the status of the game,” said league spokesman Brian McCarthy, in an email.

The Browns’ facility has been closed for the morning and the team will determine whether or not they will practice this afternoon. Originally they were supposed to take the pitch at 12:30 p.m., but it’s up in the air now. In the meantime, they will organize meetings virtually.

“Earlier this morning, the Cleveland Browns were told a player’s test results came back positive for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “The individual immediately self-isolated and the Browns facility is closed this morning. Contact tracing is ongoing. The team will continue to hold remote meetings (as part of the intensive NFL-NFLPA protocol ) and will consult with the league and medical experts on the appropriate next steps as the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff and the entire community remains our top priority.

The player’s identity has yet to be revealed, and more players or staff could end up on the COVID-19 reserve list later today if they have had close “ high risk ” contact. with the player, as determined by the contact tracing devices worn each day by players and staff. The Browns will likely make an announcement once the contact tracing is complete.

The player who tested positive will almost certainly be absent from the game as the team has established through several positive tests that it is not a false positive. According to COVID-19 protocols, the player could only play on Sunday if he was asymptomatic, has two negative tests 24 hours apart on Sunday and is cleared by Browns medical staff in consultation with the NFL chief medical officer . If he is symptomatic, he must be absent for at least 10 days.

Players who have come into close “high-risk” contact with him will also need to be absent from Sunday’s game, as they must self-quarantine for five days before they can return to team activities in person.

The Browns were already in the intensive NFL-NFLPA protocol this week due to a staff member who tested positive last week. This means that the members of the organization had minimal contact with each other during the week of practice. Team meetings took place virtually and players wore Oakley masks during practice.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on Saturday morning after coming into close contact with the staff member. He never tested positive, but was quarantined at home for five days and then activated off the COVID-19 reserve list on Wednesday.

This is the first positive test from a Browns player since training camp, when several players, including punter Jamie Gillan, were briefly placed on the COVID-19 reserve list.

“The goal is to test, isolate the individual, seek contact and stop the spread of transmission within the club,” McCarthy said. “We have been successful in doing this and everyone in the NFL family will continue to remain vigilant in fighting the virus.”

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