Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. will miss Sunday’s game against the New York Jets due to an illness.
It’s unclear whether the illness is related to COVID-19.
Wills, 21, has yet to miss a start so far in his rookie season.
LT Jedrick Wills had been downgraded to out due to illness.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 27, 2020
Sunday morning’s news comes after the Browns activated Wills off their reserve/COVID-19 list the day before.
The team placed Wills on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday because of close contact with a person who tested positive for the virus outside of the team.
On Saturday night, Wills flew separately to New Jersey away from the rest of the Browns players as a precaution.
Wills had been on track to start against the Jets.
Kendall Lamm, 28, is set to make his 27th NFL start filling in for Wills.
Normally, Chris Hubbard fills in as the team’s swing tackle.
However, Hubbard suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Browns’ Week 15 win over the New York Giants.
Rookie Nick Harris is set to make his first NFL start at right guard.
Starter Wyatt Teller is out with an ankle injury.
If the Browns had an injury to either Lamm or starting right tackle Jack Conklin on Sunday, guard Michael Dunn would likely fill in.
Dunn played tackle during his college career at Maryland.
The Browns will be without several players Sunday, including receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Donovan Peoples-Jones, starting middle linebacker B.J. Goodson and linebacker Jacob Phillips.
On Saturday, the Browns elevated wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley, linebacker Montrel Meander and wide receiver Derrick Willies from the practice squad.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot Sunday’s game against the Jets will be played because no one else is at risk for COVID-19 transmission.
On Sunday, the Browns could clinch their first playoff berth since the 2002 season.
Meanwhile, the Jets upset the Rams in Week 15 to avoid going 0-16.
The Jets enter Sunday’s game with a 1-13 record.
As of Sunday morning, the Browns are a 7-point favorite over the Jets.
Week 17’s Browns-Pittsburgh Steelers game could determine the AFC North winner if the Browns beat the Jets and the Colts upset the Steelers on Sunday.
The Steelers are a win away from clinching the division, and are a 1.5-point favorite hosting the Colts in Week 16.
The Browns haven’t won a division title since 1989.
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