CLEVELAND — More Cleveland Browns players were added to the COVID-19/reserve list Wednesday morning, along with their head coach Kevin Stefanski and running backs coach Ryan Cordell. 

The Browns confimed quakerback Baker Mayfield, cornerback Troy Hill, safety John Johnson, defensive tackle Malik McDowell and defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo were all placed on the reserve list. Safety Nate Meadors was placed on the practice squad for COVID-19, bringing the total number of players currently sitting out to 14. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Browns are preparing against the Raiders game Saturday without multiple starters, including Mayfield, and possibly without their head coach

  • Stefanski must produce two negative tests before the game

  • The NFL said there has been no discussion of canceling the game yet

It's been an unfortuante week for the Browns, first starting with multiple players added to the reserve list in the beginning of the week. Then, on Wednesday morning, the Browns confirmed Stefanksi and Cordell both tested positive.

Shortly after, ESPN also reported that quaterback Baker Mayfield tested positive. 

According to ESPN's senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, who broke the news with colleagues Field Yates and Kimberley A. Martin, Mayfield is feeling normal, citing sources familiar. But unless he tests negative twice between Wednesday and Saturday, he will not be able to play against the Raiders on Saturday, per Schefter.

"Head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has been vaccinated and received a booster, has tested positive and has immediately self-isolated. He is feeling fine and will continue his head coaching duties virtually as we prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders game on Saturday," the Browns wrote in a statement. 

If Stefanski doesn't have two negative tests by Saturday, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will serve as the play caller in Saturday’s game.

The news comes as eight players were placed COVID-19/reserve list Tuesday, and six of those players are on the active roster — wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, guard Wyatt Teller, guard Drew Forbes, defensive end Takkarist McKinley, wideout JoJo Natson and tight end Ross Travis.

Saturday's Raiders-Browns game is still on the schedule for 4:30 p.m, and the NFL wrote in a statement to Spectrum News 1 there's been "no discussion of changing the game's status."

"If a game is canceled/postponed because a club cannot play due to a COVID spike among or resulting from its non-vaccinated players/staff, then the burden of the cancellation or delay will fall on the club experiencing the COVID infection," the NFL wrote in a statement. "We will seek to minimize the burden on the opposing club or clubs. If a club cannot play due to a COVID spike in vaccinated individuals, we will attempt to minimize the competitive and economic burden on both participating teams."

Many other NFL teams are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks. On Monday, the league reported 36 players were placed on the COVID-19/reserve list, which is the largest addition to the list since it started in 2020. 

On Monday, the NFL announced a mandate that all Tier 1 and 2 personnel "who have previously been vaccinated and are eligible under [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines, must receive a booster shot." The mandate doesn't apply to players. 

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