Thumbing a nose at COVID-19

The Browns were whacked Saturday by COVID-19 to the extent they will play the New York Jets Sunday in New Jersey minus their entire starting wide receivers corps and two of their starting linebackers.

Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones and outside linebacker Jacob Phillips were placed on the list as high risk close contacts with middle linebacker B.J. Goodson, who tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The wide receivers and Phillips must sit out the next five days and test negative each day during that time in order to be eligible to return to the active rooster. Goodson, however, must stay away from the team for 10 days, which means he will also miss the season finale against Pittsburgh. 

The Cleveland receivers corps against the Jets will feature veteran Marvin Hall, who was picked up on waivers from Detroit three weeks ago and has yet to suit up, and two players from the practice squad, Derrick Willies and rookie Ja'Marcus Bradley.

As a result of this stunning news on the eve of arguably the most important game of the season since it impacts the postseason, the offensive game plan undoubtedly will be altered since the only receiver quarterback Baker Mayfield is acquainted with is Willies.

Willies played in five games as a rookie with the 2018 Browns, catching three passes for 61 yards in a 12-9 victory over Baltimore before an injury ended his season. Bradley played limited snaps in a couple of games earlier this season, but was not targeted.

It is assumed head coach/playcaller Kevin Stefanski in the wake of this news will considerably button up his offense, heavily favoring the club's solid ground game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and working the corps of four tight end heavily into the game plan. Look for Austin Hooper, David Njoku, rookie Harrison Bryant and Stephen Carlson to be active as receivers and blockers.

It is also possible Hunt will see quite a bit of action in the passing game in addition to sharing the running duties with Chubb behind the strong offensive line. Call it a resumption of Stefanski's favorite part of the offense.

Mayfield has been brilliant throwing the football the last several games, due mainly to the work of the offensive line and his wide receivers. Resumption of that phase of the Cleveland attack obviously will have to wait until the regular season finale against the Steelers. 

In a season where he has adjusted nicely to the Stefanski way of offensive football, he is being asked to make yet another adjustment. It's fortunate this one is against the Jets.

As for the defense, Phillips' absence ostensibly brings Mack Wilson back after being a healthy scratch in last week's victory against the New York Giants. The former college middle linebacker is a candidate to replace Goodson with more playing time seen for Sione Takitaki, Malcolm Smith and Tae Davis.

The changes obviously alter the original prediction. The Browns are a weaker team as a result, especially on offense. That heightens the importance of how well the defense plays. The Jets, on the other hand, are weaker in general even when healthy. 

No question COVID-19 has added drama to the game and thrown a scare into Browns Nation. The Browns are still the better team. The defense will step up and harass Jets quarterback Sam Darnold and eventually rescue their brethren on offense with a couple of takeaways. It won't be a breeze and might take a while, but they creep closer to the playoffs. Make it:

Browns 24, Jets 14