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But "next 20 men up?"
That's the predicament the coach-less Cleveland Browns are in
for their upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders, when Nick
Mullens will start at quarterback due to a COVID-19 outbreak
that could leave the Browns without more than a third of their
usual 53-man roster.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski will also be unavailable due to COVID
quarantine.
A scheduled Saturday game in Week 15, the Browns had 23 players
and three coaches on the reserve/COVID-19 list as of Sunday
night.
By Monday morning, it was evident starting quarterback Baker
Mayfield and backup Case Keenum were not ready to go for the 5
p.m. ET kickoff.
The list of players who might miss the game is lengthy and
significant.
The Browns learned Wednesday that Mayfield and Stefanski tested
positive and landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. On Thursday,
backup Keenum went on the COVID list after reportedly testing
positive, leaving Mullens as the only available possible
starter. On Friday, the Browns added running back Kareem Hunt to
the list officially. And Sunday, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney
was added to the list while offensive guard Wyatt Teller was
removed from it.
The Browns (7-6), who start Week 15 outside the AFC playoff
picture after Sunday's 24-22 home victory over AFC North leader
Baltimore, are projecting confidence in the face of mounting
odds.
"That is where we are," Stefanski said. "We have been here
before. I do not feel much different than I felt yesterday in
terms of everybody has to step up depending on who is
available."
Cleveland is in the NFL's enhanced protocols, which means daily
testing for all tiered personnel, and full-time masking. The
Browns held separate walk-throughs on Wednesday for offense,
defense and special teams.
Mullens is starting his 17th NFL game, with special-teams
coordinator Mike Priefer promoted to interim coach and offensive
coordinator Alex Van Pelt in Stefanski's stead.
All of Mullens' previous starts came for the San Francisco 49ers
from 2018-20.
Priefer and Van Pelt guided Cleveland to a 48-37 first-round
playoff win at Pittsburgh in January when Stefanski was
sidelined due to COVID-19.
"I think the guys proved last year they don't need me," joked
Stefanski.
Meanwhile, the Raiders (6-7) are pretty much in win-or-else mode
after an embarrassing 48-9 defeat Sunday at Kansas City dropped
them three games out of first in the AFC West with four games
remaining.
To sneak into a playoff berth, the Raiders probably need to win
out and get help down the stretch. But one thing that interim
coach Rich Bisaccia says won't enter the equation is frustration
or disappointment after such a poor performance.
"I think it's a wasted emotion," he said. "I'm just trying to
look at from my perspective, as coaches, 'What can we do better?
How can we help them, put them in better situations or better
positions to help them play a little better?'
"I think all the emotions are just feelings that we have of what
we didn't do very well and how we'd like to fix them."
Las Vegas has lost five of its last six games after going into
its bye week at 5-2. Sunday's blowout to the Chiefs featured
nine penalties, five turnovers and four sacks in a comprehensive
meltdown.
The Raiders own a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series with
the Browns, including a 16-6 victory last year in Cleveland.
--Field Level Media
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