CLEVELAND — In a week that's seen them send 14 players to the COVID-19 list, the Cleveland Browns finally had some good news to share when they announced on Thursday that they have activated tight end David Njoku from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Cleveland's second-leading receiver this season, Njoku had been placed on the NFL's COVID-19 list on Dec. 7, forcing him to miss the Browns' 24-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The 2017 first-round pick indicated on social media that he was asymptomatic, but ultimately wasn't able to return two negative tests in time to face the Ravens.
But while Njoku will be available to play when Cleveland faces the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, the 25-year-old tight end was just the first of 17 Browns players to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and punter Jamie Gillan also missed Cleveland's victory vs. Baltimore while being on the COVID-19 list, while the Browns have placed the following 14 players on the COVID-19 list in the day's since the Week 14 win:
- QB Baker Mayfield
- DT Malik McDowell
- WR Jarvis Landry
- CB Troy Hill
- S John Johnson III
- TE Austin Hooper
- OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
- OG Wyatt Teller
- DE Takkarist McKinley
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- OG Drew Forbes
- WR/KR JoJo Natson (practice squad)
- TE Ross Travis (practice squad)
- S Nate Meadors (practice squad)
Additionally, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski and acting running backs coach Ryan Cordell tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
Per NFL rules, a vaccinated player can return from the COVID-19 list after returning two negative tests 24 hours apart. Meanwhile, an unvaccinated player is required to remain on the COVID-19 list for at least 10 days after returning a positive test.