CLEVELAND — As the Cleveland Browns head into the final two weeks of the regular season with their playoff hopes still alive, they have welcomed back several players, including multiple key contributors, from the COVID-19 list.
On Monday, the Browns announced that they have activated the following eight players from the COVID-19 list ahead of next Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers:
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- G Drew Forbes
- S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
- CB Troy Hill
- RB Kareem Hunt
- DT Malik McDowell
- T Jedrick Wills Jr.
- LB Mack Wilson
- S Nate Meadors (practice squad)
Each player who was activated on Monday had been placed on the COVID-19 list over the course of the past two weeks, in which the Browns endured an outbreak that included more than 20 players testing positive. As a result, Clowney, Harrison, McDowell and Wills -- who are each starters for Cleveland -- missed both of Cleveland's losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers, the former of which was postponed for two days due to the Browns' outbreak.
Wills' return should bode well for a Cleveland offensive line that has been hampered by both injuries and COVID-19 this season. With right tackle Jack Conklin out for the season with a knee injury, starting center JC Tretter remains on the COVID-19 list.
But while the Browns welcomed back several players on Monday, they also placed reserve linebacker Elijah Lee on the COVID-19 list. Currently, the following Cleveland players remain on the COVID-19 list as of Monday:
- OT Alex Taylor
- C JC Tretter
- DT Jordan Elliott
- LB Tony Fields II
- LB Elijah Lee
- CB Greg Newsome II
- K Chase McLaughlin
Laying claim to a 7-8 record, the Browns need the following outcomes over the course of the final two weeks of the season to clinch a playoff spot by winning the AFC North:
- Cincinnati Bengals lose to Kansas City Chiefs
- Baltimore Ravens lose to either the Los Angeles Rams or Steelers
- Browns beat Steelers and Bengals