Tag: khadarel hodge

Updated Browns COVID-19 status for the divisional round

There are still players and coaches who could return for Sunday’s game

The Browns are preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round on Sunday. More players and coaches who have been sidelined with the team’s COVID-19 outbreak continue to become available by the day.

On Wednesday, the Browns activated Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Both cornerbacks missed the last two weeks after testing positive for the coronavirus.

There are still some players and coaches whose statuses remain up in the air.

Players still on the reserve/COVID-19 list

Left guard Joel Bitonio

Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge

Both Bitonio and Hodge have the potential to be activated before Sunday’s game, but it is not certain that will happen. They were placed on the reserve list on Jan. 5th, which means the earliest they can be activated from their positive tests is Friday, Jan. 15th.

Coaches still sidelined

Head coach Kevin Stefanski

Passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard

Assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters

Tight ends coach Drew Petzing

All the coaches could return as early as Thursday, based on the timeline of the positive testing. They will each need to clear the COVID-19 protocols established by the NFL and NFLPA, which do carry over to the coaching staff as well.

Offensive line coach Bill Callahan has cleared the protocols and is back with the team.

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These 12 Browns players have previous playoff experience

Not many Browns players have playoff experience but these 12 do

Now that the Browns have made the postseason, they’re venturing into unchartered waters for almost everyone in the organization. Cleveland hasn’t played a postseason game since the 2002 season. Even owner Jimmy Haslam has never tasted the sweetness of a postseason game before with the Browns.

There are a few Browns who have some playoff experience elsewhere. Unfortunately, two of those who do — offensive lineman Chris Hubbard and defensive end Olivier Vernon — are on injured reserve and won’t play in Pittsburgh in Sunday’s wild-card round game with the Steelers.

Here are the other Browns who have some postseason experience under their belts.

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.

 

Joel Bitonio and KhaDarel Hodge test positive for COVID-19, will miss wild-card game

Coaches Drew Petzing and Jeff Howard also tested positive

The bad news just keeps flowing for the Cleveland Browns. Per reports from NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and quickly echoed by several others, Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday’s wild-card game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.

Because both players tested positive, they must remain away from the team for at least 10 days.

Bitonio is the longest-tenured Browns player and was due to make his postseason debut. He’s also an invaluable member of the top-rated offensive line.

Hodge primarily serves as the team’s No. 4 wideout but also plays a significant role on special teams.

In addition to the players, tight ends coach Drew Petzing and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard have also tested positive and will miss the game, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Jarvis Landry and 4 others activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list

The Browns get back 4 WRs and LB Jacob Phillips

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski offered some much-needed good news on Thursday. Stefanski indicated that the five players who were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list for being close contacts to a positive test last Saturday have all been activated.

That means WRs Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins and Khadarel Hodge, as well as LB Jacob Phillips, will be back on the field at the next opportunity. Thursday’s scheduled practice was whacked as a result of TE Harrison Bryant and LB Malcolm Smith testing positive for COVID-19.

“I think you’re always excited to get all of those guys back,” Stefanski said Thursday. “Whether a guy is coming back from injury or the COVID list or anything you’re always excited to get the full complement of guys back.”

The Browns passing attack struggled without the top four wideouts in last Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets. Getting back Landry, the veteran leader of the offense, is vital to the Browns as they prepare to face the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jarvis Landry and other Browns ‘close contacts’ continue to test negative for COVID-19

The close contacts can return as early as Thursday’s practice

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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski offered an update on the multitude of Cleveland players who were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday as close contacts to someone who tested positive. And it’s very welcome news.

Jarvis Landry and the others who were forced to miss Sunday’s loss against the New York Jets continue to test negative for COVID-19. If that continues, they will all be eligible to return to Browns practice on Thursday, and then also be cleared for Sunday’s crucial matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday.

Landry was one of four wide receivers ruled out because of contact tracing to a player who tested positive, linebacker B.J. Goodson. Fellow LB Jacob Phillips was also deemed a close contact.

  • WR Jarvis Landry
  • WR KhaDarel Hodge
  • WR Rashard Higgins
  • WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
  • LB Jacob Phillips

It would be a massive disappointment to not have any of the players in the must-win Week 17 finale.

Don’t expect Goodson back, however. He tested positive and is in quarantine.

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Browns place 5 more on reserve/COVID-19 list including top 4 WRs

The Browns will be without Landry, Higgins, Peoples-Jones and Hodge vs. the Jets

Shorthanded doesn’t even begin to describe how the Cleveland Browns offense will look when the team takes the field in New York on Sunday. The top four wide receivers on the Browns were all placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list less than 24 hours before the scheduled kickoff at MetLife Stadium with the Jets.

Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Donovan Peoples-Jones are joined by linebacker Jacob Phillips on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. The team’s plane to New York was delayed for several hours while contract tracing for a positive test was completed. All the players listed were deemed as close contacts and will miss Sunday’s game.

The Browns quickly elevated WRs Ja’Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies, as well as LB Montrel Meander, from the practice squad as COVID-19 replacements. Left tackle Jedrick Wills was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday and will play against the 1-13 Jets.

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Browns postgame injury update: Andrew Sendejo in concussion protocol

Denzel Ward and KhaDarel Hodge are “progressing” per coach Kevin Stefanski

As is customary, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski began his first press conference of the new week with an injury update on the team.

The most severe news involves starting safety Andrew Sendejo. The veteran is in NFL’s concussion protocol following the team’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night. Sendejo appeared to suffer the brain injury in a high-speed collision with Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins on a 2-point conversion late in the game.

Dobbins took credit for creating the concussion in a classless move before he quickly deleted it from Twitter.

Starting CB Denzel Ward, who has missed the last three games, is “progressing” per Stefanski. He is battling a calf injury. Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge earned the same status with his hamstring. Hodge has missed the last two weeks.

Myles Garrett and Jedrick Wills each left Monday night’s game with injuries but quickly returned to play. Garrett has an elbow injury while Wills got cleated on his ankle. Stefanski notes that both will be evaluated throughout the week. That’s also true of right guard Wyatt Teller and his ongoing calf issues.

Interestingly, Stefanski refused to rule out a return from injured reserve for CB Greedy Williams. The second-year corner has not played this season since suffering a nerve injury in his shoulder in training camp. Williams revealed the extent of his injury in a social media post on Monday.

Final Browns injury report for Week 14 rules out Denzel Ward, KhaDarel Hodge

Two key players are ruled out and TE Austin Hooper is questionable in Week 14

The Cleveland Browns will face the Baltimore Ravens without their top cornerback and one of their key offensive weapons when the teams face off on Monday Night Football.

Cornerback Denzel Ward will miss his third consecutive game with a calf strain. There was hope Ward could get back for the key AFC North matchup with an extra day of rest, but the Browns did not want to risk lengthening the injury and will keep Ward inactive vs. Baltimore.

Wideout KhaDarel Hodge will also be out. It’s the second straight week for Hodge to miss with his hamstring issue. Hodge is the team’s best blocker at wide receiver and had stepped up as a passing target of late.

The only other player with an injury designation is tight end Austin Hooper, who is questionable after suffering a neck injury in Thursday’s practice.

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Browns injury update: Austin Hooper sits out with neck injury

Hooper, Denzel Ward and KhaDarel Hodge all sat out Friday’s practice

The Browns had some bad news on the injury front on Friday. Starting tight end Austin Hooper sat out the practice session with a neck injury.

Hooper had not been on the injury report earlier in the week, so his absence was a surprise. The Browns have not offered any details on the source or nature of the injury. Hooper has emerged as the second-leading receiver on the Browns with 30 receptions on the season.

With the team playing Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, the final official injury report is not completed until after Saturday’s session.

Cornerback Denzel Ward and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge were also idle on Friday with their ongoing injuries. Both Ward and Hodge are “progressing” towards playing according to head coach Kevin Stefanski but will need to get at least some practice in before the game to be active.

If Hooper’s injury keeps him out, expect more of David Njoku and Stephen Carlson in the lineup, with rookie Harrison Bryant bumping up to the No. 1 TE role.

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