Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has tested positive for COVID-19 and could miss Saturday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN reported.
Stefanski was one of multiple positive cases on the team. Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and running backs coach Ryan Cordell also tested positive.
Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield has tested positive for COVID-19, sources tell @FieldYates, @ByKimberleyA and me. Unless he produces two negative tests between Saturday, he’s out vs. Raiders.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2021
To be available for Sunday’s game, Stefanski will be required to provide proof of two negative tests in advance. If necessary, ESPN reported special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will act as Cleveland’s head coach for the game.
Positives by today should be cleared in time for next Saturday. Still a rough news day again in Berea. Will have the latest on @browns_daily
— Nathan Zegura (@NathanZegura) December 15, 2021
The team’s statement noted Stefanski had been vaccinated and received a booster shot. He is currently in self-isolation.
“He is feeling fine and will continue his head coaching duties virtually as we prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders game on Saturday,” the statement reported.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 15, 2021
The team has struggled with players and staff entering COVID-19 protocol recently.
“We’ve placed 6 players on reserve/COVID-19 lists and made additional roster moves,” the team reported on Wednesday.
We've placed 6 players on reserve/COVID-19 lists and made additional roster moves
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 15, 2021
Concerns continue as positive cases across the NFL continue to grow.
After a then-record 37 NFL COVID positives on Monday, dozens more players get coronavirus
— 38 more players tested positive on Tuesday.
— Now it includes Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield and head coachhttps://t.co/7fYuEOco0s— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) December 15, 2021
The Daily Wire previously reported this week:
On Monday, ESPN reported that the NFL had 37 positive cases of COVID-19. It’s reported that one of these cases was of the Omicron variant in the Washington Football Team organization.
Shortly after finding the 37 positive tests, the league released a memo outlining that all Tier 1 and Tier two staff members must receive COVID-19 booster shots by December 27 in order to effectively be considered fully vaccinated.
“On November 29, the CDC issued a study showing that the effectiveness of the approved COVID-19 vaccines may decrease over time and has recommended that all eligible vaccinated individuals over the age of 18 should receive a booster shot,” the memo reads. “Given the increased prevalence of the virus in our communities, our experts have recommended that we implement the CDC’s recommendation”
“In accordance with the CDC recommendation, all Tier 1 and Tier 2 staff, who have previously been vaccinated and are eligible under CDC guidelines, must receive a booster shot no later than December 27.”
Prior to the beginning of the 2021 season, the NFL required that all Tier 1 staff — which includes coaches, front-office executives, equipment managers, and staff — be fully vaccinated unless they receive a medical or religious exemption.
On November 4, The Daily Wire sued the federal government over the OSHA mandate for private businesses. The Daily Wire also launched a petition for signees to express support for its lawsuit against the mandate.
Source: Dailywire
