Mid-week thoughts

The many faces of COVID-19 are changing almost as rapidly as the 13 morphing faces on Michael Jackson's famous Black or White video.

Its impact on the National Football League, as well as other sports but to a lesser degree, has been devastating in the last week or two and threatens to have a profound effect on what the final standings look like on Jan. 9.

Right now, the Browns find themselves in second place in the AFC North and in a strong position with regard to the postseason with four games remaining, beginning with Saturday's late afternoon flexed home game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

They also find themselves in a personnel crunch as the Omicron variant of COVID runs roughshod over a seven-team NFL bloc that clearly affects the competitive level of current games. It has forced the league to relax some of the strict rules regarding full vaccinated and asymptomatic players testing positive.

As it stand right now, the Browns list 17 players and coaches, including quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Kevin Stefanski, in COVID protocol. It's gotten to the point where players are beginning to swap places on the COVID reserve list.

As tight end David Njoku was activated off the list Thursday, safety Ronnie Harrison Jr, battling an ankle injury, replaced him. It makes the job of preparing for the Raiders that much more difficult for the coaches. It's pretty much scrambling on the fly.

With a little luck, that number could possibly be reduced slightly by Friday afternoon. Both sides of the football have been hit hard with at least 10 starters and key contributors off the bench most likely watching the nationally televised game at home.

The loss of Harrison and John Johnson III reduces the safety corps to Grant Delpit, seldom-used Javonte Moffatt and rookie Richard LeCounte III, who has not taken a snap from scrimmage this season. That very likely will change defensive coordinator Joe Woods' game plan.

Wood often likes to play three safeties in his 4-2-5 scheme. It could mean occasionally switching to a conventional 4-3-4 alignment with the return of outside linebacker Jordan Phillips, who joins Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Malcolm Smith, in the middle for COVID-ridden Anthony Walker Jr.

Smith doesn't seem concerned with all the chaos. "We had a chance to walk through (plays) outdoors, so we're all right," he told reporters. "At this point of the season -- I don't even know what week it is -- it's  a lot less physical than you might think.

"As long as we get to do something and are communicating, even if if we're doing it on Zoom, it's better than the last minute is. We are in position now to prepare for (any roster surprises the night before the game)."

The offensive line undergoes a massive overhaul with tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and guard Wyatt Teller unavailable. Blake Hance, who had problems at right tackle subbing for Jack Conklin, moves to his more natural position at left tackle with Michael Dunn replacing Teller at right guard and rookie James Hudson III at right tackle. How left guard Joel Bitonio and center JC Tretter avoided COVID is a mystery.

Stefanski's game plan on offense, with the playcalling handled by Alex Van Pelt, is almost certain to focus on the run game for a couple of reasons. Chances are he wants to get Nick Chubb cooking again against a mediocre Vegas run defense after a two-game slumber against Baltimore (75 yards on 25 carries) and he has a paucity of reliable wide receivers.

With Jarvis Landry in COVID prison, Donovan Peoples-Jones becomes the top target, the seldom-used and mostly forgotten Rashard Higgins moves up to two (maybe) with practice squader J'Marcus Bradley available in larger packages.

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who takes over head-coaching duties for Stefanski, isn't worried, either. "If this was week one or two, it would be different, but it's our 14th game and week 15," he said. "Because we have so much football under our belt, I'm not concerned about the physical part, but you'd like obviously to have a practice before you go out and play."

The entire situation is a mess as the NFL shoots for two consecutive seasons without a postponement or cancellation during a pandemic. Unfortunately, teams vying to play in the postseason during these trying times are prisoners with the teams boasting the most talented backups and practice squads the biggest beneficiaries.

What happens this weekend -- and who knows how many weekends after that -- with this variant wreaking so much havoc could very well mean the difference between qualifying for football in mid-January and beyond and hauling out the golf clubs with an eye on next season.