CLEVELAND — As a Christmas Day matchup with the Green Bay Packers approaches, it appears the Cleveland Browns will be without another key member of their offense. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Browns center JC Tretter revealed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
"After experiencing mild cold-like symptoms this morning, I chose to test at our facility and unfortunately, I am positive for COVID-19," wrote Tretter, who also serves as the president of the NFL Players Association. "I encourage all NFL players to take every precaution available to them to protect themselves, their families and their teammates from this virus."
Tretter's positive test comes amid a two-week span that has seen more than 20 Browns players test positive for COVID-19. Cleveland's outbreak resulted in its Week 15 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders being pushed from Saturday to Monday, with 18 players on the Browns active roster, as well as head coach Kevin Stefanski, ultimately missing the team's 16-14 loss due to COVID-19.
In addition to placing Tretter on the COVID-19 list, Cleveland has activated safety Grant Delpit and offensive tackle James Hudson III. As of Wednesday, the following Browns players remain on the team's COVID-19 list:
- QB Baker Mayfield
- QB Case Keenum
- RB Kareem Hunt
- WR Jarvis Landry
- OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
- C JC Tretter
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- DT Malik McDowell
- LB Mack Wilson Sr.
- LB Tony Fields II
- CB Greg Newsome II
- CB A.J. Green
- CB Troy Hill
- S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
Earlier this week, the NFL implemented new protocols for more targeted COVID-19 testing, while lowering the testing threshold for vaccinated players who are asymptomatic to return to action. The Browns (7-7) face the Green Bay Packers (11-3) on Saturday.