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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Browns left guard Joel Bitonio’s COVID-19 nightmare is over.
Bitonio, who missed the Browns 48-37 wild card win over the Steelers with COVID-19, was activated off the virus’s reserve list on Friday and will play his first career playoff game on Sunday at Kansas City in the round of division.
The Browns have also waived safety Tedric Thompson.
Bitonio, who hadn’t missed a snap since 2016 and spent all seven seasons of his career qualifying for the playoffs, was the last of the Browns players on the list. Over the past few weeks, more than a dozen players have been added to the roster and have missed games because of it.
Bitonio’s teammates know how much the playoffs mean to him.
“A lot of respect for him,” said Jarvis Landry. “He’s always been a guy who’s always been about his business since I’ve been here. He’s always where he needs to be and always does what he does.
“He’s a great role model for the guys in his bedroom. One of the team leaders. Again a calm guy, but he does his right thing and when you do that you don’t have to say a lot.
Now the Browns must hope to get Jack Conklin (hamstring) back for the game. Conklin left the Steelers game in the second quarter and did not return.
He hasn’t practiced all week. If he can’t play, Kendall Lamm will replace him.
The Browns also removed Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson from the COVID-19 roster on Wednesday, just in time to try to hold back Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.
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