The Browns will be shorthanded in the receiving game heading into Sunday's contest against the Jets after four wide receivers — including Jarvis Landry — were placed on the COVID-19 reserve list Saturday.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that a group of Cleveland receivers had been deemed "high-risk-close-contacts." Later Saturday afternoon, Landry, along with Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge, were all placed on the COVID-19 reserve list. Linebacker Jacob Phillip was also placed on the list.
In response to losing five players, the Browns activated receivers Ja’Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies and linebacker Montrel Meander from the practice squad.
Broncos played without their QBs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2020
Ravens played without multiple RBs.
Lions played today without multiple coaches.
And now the Browns are poised to play Sunday without their top WRs.
MORE: How the Browns can clinch an NFL playoff spot, still catch Steelers in AFC North
Landry clearly wasn't happy with the events, describing his emotions in just one word on Twitter: "ANNOYED." He had never missed a game in his seven-year career, playing in 110 out of 110 games.
ANNOYED
— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) December 26, 2020
Landry is the team's leading receiver, with 67 catches for 789 yards and three touchdowns. Higgins has been a solid No. 2 option for Baker Mayfield, hauling in 35 catches for 544 yards and four touchdowns. Peoples-Jones has 13 catches for 174 yards and two scores this season. Hodge has nine catches for 155 yards.
This isn't the first time a team has lost multiple members of the same position group due to COVID-19: The Broncos had to play with practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback in Week 12, and the Ravens played without both of their top two running backs in an important AFC North contest against the Steelers. The Lions even played without interim head coach Darrell Bevell and several assistants in Saturday's embarrassing 47-7 loss to the Buccaneers.
If there's a saving grace for the Browns (10-4), it's that they're facing arguably the worst team in the NFL. But the Jets (1-13) are coming off their first win of the season, a 23-20 victory over a solid Rams team, so nothing is guaranteed. Cleveland is still in the hunt for the AFC North title, just a game behind the Steelers.