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The 11-5 Browns broke the league's longest
active playoff drought with a 24-22 win over the Pittsburgh
Steelers to clinch a spot in this weekend's wild card round
after COVID-19-related absences dogged the team in the final two
weeks of the regular season.
"Our facility is currently closed while contact tracing is
taking place," the Browns said in a statement. "The team will
continue to consult with the league and medical experts to
determine the appropriate next steps."
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will step in as
Cleveland's acting head coach.
The NFL said on Tuesday that there were 34 new confirmed cases
of the novel coronavirus among players and 36 among personnel
across the league during the testing period from Dec. 27 through
Jan. 2.
The Browns had to shut their facility ahead of the Week 17
showdown with the Steelers due to positive COVID-19 tests within
the franchise, prompting concern as the NFL headed towards the
post-season, but they were able to play as scheduled.
The team had to compete without their top-tier receiving corps
during the Week 16 loss to the New York Jets, with players
sidelined on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
The AFC's sixth-seeded Browns are slated to face the AFC
North-winning Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET
(0115 GMT).
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Ken Ferris and Toby Davis)
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