Browns place Olivier Vernon, Nick Harris on injured reserve

Vernon had been the Browns best defender over the last 8 weeks

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Olivier Vernon’s season is officially over now. The Browns placed the starting defensive end on injured reserve with his torn Achilles tendon. Vernon suffered the injury in the Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Browns also placed rookie offensive lineman Nick Harris on the I.R. Harris has a knee injury that kept him out of Week 17 after he picked up his first career start in Week 16 at right guard.

Cleveland also placed left guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge on the reserve/COVID-19 list effective on Tuesday. Both players tested positive for the coronavirus. That means they are eligible to be activated prior to the divisional round of the postseason if the Browns beat Pittsburgh on Sunday in the wild-card round.