Browns Activate Baker Mayfield From COVID-19 List

By Mark Bergin November 11, 2020 @mdbergin

The Cleveland Browns have activated Baker Mayfield off their COVID-19 list ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Houston Texans.

The team placed Mayfield on the list Sunday after he came in close contact with a Browns staff member who had a positive test.

Mayfield, 25, never tested positive for COVID-19.

The Browns announced on their website that Mayfield is set to rejoin his teammates for Wednesday’s practice in Berea, Ohio.

We’ve activated Baker Mayfield from our reserve/COVID-19 list. pic.twitter.com/l29u8EGbD7

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 11, 2020

While Mayfield was on the Browns’ COVID-19 list, he had to quarantine for five days.

It means he could not attend practice or meetings at the team’s facility until Wednesday.

Mayfield did not miss a game since the Browns had their bye week in Week 9.

Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported Mayfield missed a “bonus” workout on Monday, in which the Browns wore full pads and had a full practice.

Backup quarterback Case Keenum filled in for Mayfield.

First-year head coach Kevin Stefanski said Mayfield’s absence Monday would not be a setback for the team.

“He was on our virtual calls (Monday) morning so he’s very much involved in what we are doing from a meeting room spot,” he said. “He’ll watch this tape. We’ll watch it with him. Anytime you’re not out there, you wish you had all of your guys out there to get the reps – that’s just natural – but we’ll make sure we bring him up to speed as soon as he’s back in the building.”

Several key offensive players are expected to rejoin Mayfield on Sunday, including running back Nick Chubb (knee), guard Wyatt Teller (calf strain) and Austin Hooper (appendectomy).

Oddsmakers consider the Browns to be 3-point favorites over the Texans (2-6).

For the third time since 1999, the Browns (5-3) reached the halfway point of the season with a winning record.

The Browns are trying to end an 18-year playoff drought, which is the NFL’s longest active streak.

Through eight games of the 2020 season, Mayfield has completed 61.4% of his passes for 1,514 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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About Mark Bergin

Mark Bergin has contributed to BrownsNation.com since November 2019. He works full-time as a news reporter for Observer Media Group in Sarasota, Florida. He also hosts the “Bleav in Steelers” podcast with Ike Taylor, a two-time Super Bowl champion.

Bergin has covered several teams in his media career, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning, University of Tennessee athletics and University of Missouri athletics.