CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from Dec. 27, 2020.
Nearly five hours after closing down their team facility on Wednesday due to a pair of positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, the Cleveland Browns have completed contact tracing and reopened their facility.
The temporary closing of the Browns facility came as the result of one player and one staff member testing positive for the coronavirus. In a Zoom call with reporters, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that it was a member of his coaching staff, as well as a member of the team's practice squad, who tested positive for the virus.
On Tuesday, the Browns placed three players -- safeties Andrew Sendejo and Karl Joseph, as well as tight end Harrison Bryant -- on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which was created for players who have either tested positive for or have been exposed to the coronavirus. Nine members of the Browns active roster are currently on the COVID-19 list, with six of those players being placed on the list ahead of Cleveland's 23-16 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.
Five of the players -- wide receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge, as well as linebacker Jacob Phillips -- who missed Sunday's game, however, will be eligible to return to the Browns on Thursday should they continue to test negative for the coronavirus. With a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Cleveland would end the NFL's longest active postseason drought (17 years), while a tie or loss would leave the Browns needing help elsewhere in the NFL in order to clinch a postseason spot.