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CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Browns have ushered in the New Year with training. With everything that happened last week, it was a major victory.
They will go for an even bigger Sunday.
After days of testing positive for covid-19, disruption and delays, the Browns regained some normalcy and reopened their facilities on Friday to resume their preparation for facing the Pittsburgh Steelers and possibly end a post-drought. season dating back to 2002.
A season like no other will end Sunday with a loss and bitter disappointment for the Browns (10-5) or continue with a win that will propel them into the AFC playoffs for the second time since their rebirth in 1999.
“I can feel the weight of it,” said receiver Jarvis Landry.
It’s been a heavy week for the Browns. They must have mixed up players on and off the covid-19 reserve roster and will miss at least three starters, including cornerback Denzel Ward, when they face AFC champions North Steelers (12- 3).
For the first time in three days, they did not test positive and must now go through the following hours unharmed. Last week, their trip to play the New York Jets turned into a wasted weekend after a positive test for linebacker BJ Goodson led four wide receivers, including Landry, to be considered close contacts.
Landry, who missed the first game of his career, and the other fumbles are back. But the group will miss assistant coach Chad O’Shea on Sunday because he tested positive for covid-19.
Coach Kevin Stefanski will once again call on Chief of Staff Callie Brownson to replace her. She became the first woman in NFL history to take on an in-game coaching role on Nov. 29, when tight ends coach Drew Petzing did not make it to Jacksonville as a wife. gave birth to the couple’s first child.
“We won’t miss a beat there,” Stefanski said.
It looks like the Browns have handled the recent upheaval as well as you might expect. Players have gotten used to virtual meetings and on-the-fly adjustment, so the last few days are nothing fancy – at least by 2020-2021 standards.
“We are where we need to be from a preparation standpoint,” said Stefanski, who named defensive star Myles Garrett captain for the game. “We haven’t missed a beat in the Zoom meetings and the mental aspect of it. We did our job on Wednesday. We did some extra work today. I’m comfortable with where we are at. ”
The Browns are also on hiatus with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, resting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, defensive MVP contender and sacked league chief TJ Watt and other prominent newbies. The Steelers are trying to get back into good health for their first playoff game – which, depending on how things go, could be against Cleveland.
But even with backup quarterback Mason Rudolph in charge of Pittsburgh’s “B” team, the Browns know they have their hands full as they attempt to complete a comeback that began after their 0-16 in. 2017.
A victory would restore pride to this football-mad city and its beloved franchise.
“It would be special,” said Pro Bowl goalie Joel Bitonio, drafted by the Browns in 2014. “You put your heart and soul and sadly your blood, sweat and tears to play for this team, and they gave you everything.
“You put so much in it and you take a lot out of it, but the end goal is to win the Super Bowls. You see guys winning, and you see friends winning that you’re talking to and they’ve got a Super Bowl ring, and you want to be a part of that conversation. Our next step is to win this game to take a chance. ”
That’s all Landry wants.
After arriving at the Browns on a 2018 trade from Miami, the five-time Pro Bowler has vowed to change the team’s identity.
“All of our dreams and goals are aligned to be able to play these meaningful games, make the playoffs and win championships here in Cleveland,” said Landry, who has played one playoff game in seven seasons in the NFL. “I think the weight is not just on my shoulders, but on everyone’s shoulders.
“Everyone really, really wants it.”
Notes: Stefanski “feels good” that RG Wyatt Teller (ankle) will play after missing the last two games. … Rookie G Nick Harris (knee) has been ruled out, and his loss weakens a squad that recently lost Chris Hubbard to a season-ending knee injury. … LBs Sione Takitaki and Tae Davis (ankle injuries) are questionable as are OL Kendall Lamm (illness).
Categories:
NFL | Sports | Steelers / NFL
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