Browns short-handed as they face Jets
The Cleveland Browns are short-handed as they try to clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2002, the longest active drought in the NFL.
They learned Sunday morning they will be without starting rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills against the New York Jets because of an illness. Wills had been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday and activated Saturday, but was then downgraded Sunday. Kendall Lamm will take his starting spot.
The Browns’ trip to New Jersey was delayed Saturday after starting linebacker B.J. Goodson was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and four receivers, including top target Jarvis Landry, were ruled out because of close contact. The Browns will be missing receivers Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge and linebacker Jacob Phillips. They were placed on the COVID-19 list on Saturday before the team flew to the New York area.
Cleveland’s offensive line was already banged up before Wills was ruled out. Starting right guard Wyatt Teller will miss his second straight game with a sprained ankle, and rookie Nick Harris will start in his place.
The Indianapolis Colts will be without both starting offensive tackles when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Left tackle Anthony Costanzo is inactive because of an ankle injury suffered in practice on Thursday. Right tackle Braden Smith is also out after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Indianapolis promoted guard Jake Eldrenkamp and tackle J’Marcus Webb to the active roster to provide some needed depth.
The Colts will also play without assistant offensive line coach Klayton Adams will be unavailable because of COVID-19 related reasons. His duties will be handled by the offensive staff.
The Steelers will be without kicker Chris Boswell for the second time this month because of a hip issue. Matthew Wright, who made all three kicks against Washington on Dec. 7, will start in place of Boswell. Pittsburgh will have running back James Conner available after he sat out a loss to Cincinnati because of a quadriceps injury.
The Baltimore Ravens have placed running back Mark Ingram on the inactive list against the New York Giants, along with cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith.
Ingram is a healthy scratch for the second week in a row. Peters has a calf injury and Smith has a shoulder issue.
The Giants expect to start Daniel Jones at quarterback. He’s missed two of the past three games because of hamstring and ankle injuries.
He won’t have Golden Tate as a target. Tate is inactive with a calf injury.
Also, the Giants say fullback Eli Penny will miss the game with an illness that is not a COVID-19 issue.
The Chiefs have wide receiver Tyreek Hill available as they attempt to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the lone first-round playoff bye with a win over the Atlanta Falcons. Hill had been listed as questionable with a hamstring injury that he picked up in last week’s win over the Saints.
The Chiefs are missing linebackers Anthony Hitchens (COVID-19) and Damien Wilson (knee), which means Darius Harris, Ben Niemann and Willie Gay Jr. are in line to play against the Falcons.
Atlanta is once again without wide receiver Julio Jones, who is missing his third straight game with a hamstring injury. The Falcons also are without center Alex Mack because of a concussion, left guard James Carpenter because of a groin injury and defensive tackle Marlon Davidson with a knee injury.
Falcons return specialist Brandon Powell (foot) and safety Ricardo Allen (concussion) are active.
Chicago Bears receiver Allen Robinson, listed as questionable to play against his former team because of a hamstring injury, is active and in the starting lineup at Jacksonville. Robinson has 90 catches for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns. He spent the first four years of his career with the Jaguars.
The Texans placed safety Eric Murray on the COVID list and promoted CB Anthony Chesley from the practice squad to the active roster to take his spot. This comes after they placed LB Whitney Mercilus on the COVID list on Christmas.
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CLEVELAND AT NEW YORK JETS
Browns: OT Jedrick Wills, G Wyatt Teller, S Tedric Thompson, DE Joe Jackson
Jets: CB Javelin Guidry, WR Lawrence Cager, TE Ross Travis, OL James Murray, DL Trevon Coley, K Chase McLaughlin, QB James Morgan.
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NEW YORK GIANTS AT BALTIMORE
Giants: WR Golden Tate, FB Eli Penny, OT Kyle Murphy, OT Jackson Barton, DE RJ McIntosh.
Ravens: RB Mark Ingram, CB Jimmy Smith, CB Marcus Peters, CB Jimmy Smith, OL Trystan Colon-Castillo, LB Jaylon Ferguson, DT Broderick Washington, WR James Proche
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CHICAGO AT JACKSONVILLE
Bears: CB Buster Skrine, CB Jaylon Johnson, OL Lachavious Simmons, NT Daniel McCullers, TE Demetrius Harris, WR Riley Ridley
Jaguars: QB Jake Luton, WR Collin Johnson, RB James Robinson, CB Luq Barcoo, LB Quincy Williams, TE Tyler Davis, DL Caraun Reid
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ATLANTA at KANSAS CITY
Falcons: WR Julio Jones, RB Qadree Ollison, CB Darqueze Dennard, C Alex Mack, OG James Carpenter, DTs Marlon Davidson and Deadrin Senat.
Chiefs: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LB Damien Wilson, OT Martinas Rankin, DE Tim Ward, DT Khalen Saunders, CBs BoPete Keyes and Deandre Baker.
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INDIANAPOLIS at PITTSBURGH
Colts: LT Anthony Castonzo, QB Jacob Eason, WR Marcus Johnson, WR Dezmon Patmon and CB Isaiah Rogers.
Steelers: QB Josh Dobbs, K Chris Boswell, RB Anthony McFarland Jr., ILB Marcus Allen, OLB Ola Adeniyi, DE Isaiah Buggs.
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CINCINNATI AT HOUSTON
Bengals: WR Tyler Boyd, K Randy Bullock, LB Jordan Evans, LB Logan Wilson, G B.J. Finney, G Alex Redmond, G Keaton Sutherland.
Texans: RB Duke Johnson, WR Isaiah Coulter, RB C.J. Prosise, CB Phillip Gaines and QB Josh McCown.
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