NFL Says 'No Indication Of A Spread' In Cleveland Browns Team Facility

When it was announced that Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski had tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, there was speculation that the facility in Berea may have a COVID outbreak.

Wednesday, as the Browns start to get ready for the work week and prepare for Sunday's Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Heinz Field, the NFL put out a statement assuring that there's no spread of the virus at the team complex.

“While we are continuing to monitor, there’s been no indication of a spread among the team facility,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said to Pro Football Talk on Wednesday via email.

“This is based on contact tracing and also genomic sequencing that has been conducted to date.”

As pointed out by Adam Schefter of ESPN, Cleveland has placed 17 players (not counting coaches) on the COVID-19/Reserve list in the last two weeks.












Here's the current list of Browns players and coaches, as well as when they were added:

Kevin Stefanski, Head Coach — January 5
Harrison Bryant, TE — December 29
B.J. Goodson, LB — December 26
Kevin Johnson, DB — January 2
Andrew Sendejo, S — December 29
Malcolm Smith, LB — December 31
Denzel Ward, DB — December 31
Joel Bitonio, G — January 5
KhaDarel Hodge, WR — January 5
















Without Stefanski, special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as the acting head coach for Sunday's Wild Card game, the first playoff game for the Browns since a 36-33 loss to Pittsburgh back in 2002.

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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."