Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is the newest member of the Madden "99 Club," EA Sports announced Thursday.

Garrett is enjoying a dominant season for the Browns with 45 total tackles, 15 sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble through 13 appearances. He's received a 92.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

The 25-year-old Texas A&M product had a strong case for the 99 Club when the latest edition of Madden was released in August.

His 42.5 sacks from 2017—when he was drafted by Cleveland with the first overall pick—through 2020 ranked fifth in the NFL over that span. He also earned two Pro Bowl appearances and a First Team All-Pro selection during his first four seasons.

That said, the honor arrives better late than never, and now Garrett stands among the video game's elite.

He explained last week that individual accolades aren't what he's focused on right now, though.

"Nothing matters if we don't make the playoffs," Garrett told reporters. "I mean, [Defensive Player of the Year] is nice, but I want to be remembered for bringing some Super Bowls here. I know Baker [Mayfield] does, and everybody else does. The individual glory will come and go, but the city will remember a Super Bowl."

The Browns are eighth in the AFC standings with a 7-6 record. The top seven teams make the playoffs, and there are five clubs tied at 7-6, with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills occupying the final two postseason spots based on tiebreakers.

It sets the stage for a wild finish in the conference with just three games separating the top-seeded New England Patriots (9-4) and the 13th-seeded Miami Dolphins (6-7).

Cleveland will look to survive the chaos and rise up the standings beginning Saturday when it hosts the Las Vegas Raiders (6-7) in a crucial game at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Cleveland Browns' reserve/COVID-19 list keeps growing ahead of Saturday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Per the team's official website, Baker Mayfield was among five players on the 53-man roster added to the list on Wednesday.

John Johnson III, Troy Hill, Malik McDowell and Ifeadi Odenigbo were also placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Safety Nate Meadors was added to the practice squad/COVID-19 list. 

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, a total of 14 Browns players have been put on the reserve/COVID-19 list in the past two days.

In addition to potentially being without 14 players, the Browns announced head coach Kevin Stefanski and running backs coach Ryan Cordell tested positive for COVID-19. 

Per the team's announcement, Stefanski has been vaccinated and received a booster shot. He will be eligible to coach on Saturday if he can produce two negative tests in a 24-hour period. 

If Stefanski isn't available, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as Cleveland's acting head coach against the Raiders. 

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry, offensive guard Wyatt Teller, tight end Austin Hooper, left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., defensive end Takk McKinley, punt returner JoJo Natson, backup guard Drew Forbes and reserve tight end Ross Travis were the eight players added to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. 

Amid ongoing COVID concerns across the NFL, ESPN's Dan Graziano reported on Monday that the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Washington have entered the league's enhanced protocols. 

On Tuesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted the Browns and Los Angeles Rams have also been added to the enhanced-protocol group. 

Per Graziano, the NFL's enhanced COVID protocols include "daily testing regardless of vaccination status, mandatory masking at team facilities and other stringent measures."

Per NFL rules, vaccinated players will be eligible to return with two negative COVID tests in a 24-hour period as long as they remain asymptomatic. 

Unvaccinated players are required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days and will be eligible to return with a negative test as long as they are asymptomatic. 

The Browns are hosting the Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.    

The NFL has no plans to postpone or cancel Saturday's game between the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders despite a COVID-19 outbreak within the Browns organization.

According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press, an NFL spokesperson said: "There’s been no discussion of changing the game's status."

On Tuesday, the Browns entered into the NFL's enhanced COVID-19 mitigation protocols and placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-list list, including six active roster members in wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, guard Wyatt Teller, defensive end Takkarist McKinley and guard Drew Forbes.

The Browns also announced Tuesday that head coach Kevin Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19.

Cleveland could be without some key players for the 4:30 p.m. game, and it comes at a bad time given that only four weeks remain in the regular season.

The Browns have scratched and clawed throughout the year, and they got their record back over .500 last week by holding on to beat the Baltimore Ravens 24-22.

Cleveland (7-6) moved to within one game of the Ravens for the AFC North lead. The Browns are also one of five AFC teams tied with a 7-6 record.

While they are currently tied for one of the final two wild-card spots, the Browns would not make the playoffs if the season ended today because of the tiebreakers.

That makes beating the Raiders on Saturday even more important, especially since the Raiders are only one game behind the Browns at 6-7.

There isn't an easy game left on Cleveland's schedule, but a home date with Las Vegas is arguably the most winnable one, as the Browns must face the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers on the road the following two weeks before hosting the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.

While a handful of games were postponed last season because of COVID-19, the NFL has been able to avoid any such instances this season.

Coronavirus cases have been on the rise as of late, though, with the NFL announcing Monday that 36 players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list because of positive tests.

Raiders vs. Browns is on as of now, but if more Browns players continue to be placed on the COVID list, the NFL may have no choice other than to enact its first postponement of the season.

The Cleveland Browns announced Wednesday that head coach Kevin Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19.

The team noted that Stefanski, who is vaccinated and has received a booster shot, is "feeling fine" amid self-isolation:

Stefanski will require two negative COVID-19 tests between now and Saturday in order to coach in Saturday's game between the Browns and Las Vegas Raiders. If he is unable to produce those results, the Browns announced that special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach.

The Browns entered into the NFL's enhanced mitigation protocols for COVID-19 on Tuesday after several players tested positive for COVID.

In all, the Browns placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, including six from the active roster in wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, guard Wyatt Teller, defensive end Takkarist McKinley and guard Drew Forbes.

The placement of the Browns' players on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday and Stefanski testing positive Wednesday comes on the heels of the NFL announcing that 36 players across the league were placed on the COVID list Monday.

Notably, Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19 last season just days before Cleveland's AFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Stefanski had to watch the game from home in isolation, while Priefer served as the acting head coach and led the Browns to a 48-37 victory.

The Browns were making their first playoff appearance since 2002, and the win was their first postseason triumph since 1994.

Cleveland has struggled through an up-and-down 2021 campaign, but after gutting out a win over the Baltimore Ravens last week, the Browns are tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for second place in the AFC North, just one game behind the Ravens.

The Browns are also one of five teams in the AFC with a 7-6 record, all of whom are tied for the final two wild-card spots in the conference.

Saturday's game is significant for the Browns in keeping their playoff hopes alive, especially since the Raiders are only one game behind them at 6-7.

While being without the reigning NFL Coach of the Year could adversely impact the Browns provided Stefanski is unable to get cleared in time, potentially being without two of their leading receivers and offensive linemen may be an even bigger concern for the team.

The Cleveland Browns were placed in the NFL's enhanced mitigation protocols regarding COVID-19 on Tuesday.

According to ESPN's Jake Trotter, that means team meetings will be virtual Tuesday, and all players, coaches and personnel at the team facility will have to wear masks. Trotter also noted Tuesday's walkthrough practice will be closed to the media.

Josina Anderson of USA Today reported Tuesday that the Browns returned some positive COVID-19 tests.

The Browns didn't specify who tested positive, but the team did announce Jarvis Landry, Austin Hooper, Drew Forbes, Wyatt Teller, Takkarist McKinley and Jedrick Willis have all been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Tight end David Njoku, punter Jamie Gillan and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. all missed Sunday's 24-22 win over the Baltimore Ravens after being placed on the list.

Per Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that he was unsure of the status of those players for Saturday's upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Ridenour also reported the Browns were placed in enhanced COVID-19 protocols one time previously this season.

That occurred when running backs Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton and John Kelly, as well as practice-squad players Lawrence Cager and Bryan Mills were placed on the COVID list before the Browns' Nov. 14 game against the New England Patriots.

Cleveland went on to lose that game 45-7, marking its most lopsided defeat of the season.

Saturday's game is a significant one for the Browns, as their win over Baltimore put them back in the thick of the AFC playoff race.

In addition to being in the mix for a potential wild-card spot at 7-6, the Browns are now back in the AFC North divisional race as well.

Cleveland is tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for second place in the division, just one game behind the Ravens.

With Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson nursing an ankle sprain that knocked him out of Sunday's game, Baltimore appears vulnerable and the division could be there for the taking.

Cleveland has a tough schedule down the stretch with the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Bengals still to come, but a win over the Raiders would go a long way toward putting the Browns in position to return to the postseason for the second successive year.

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt will undergo a precautionary MRI after suffering an ankle injury during Sunday's 24-22 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Hunt—who was injured in the first quarter—could have returned to the game if necessary.

"We'll get images on that tomorrow," Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He wanted to try and fight through it, but just didn't think we should put him back out there."

Hunt had 18 total yards on four touches.

The Browns placed the 26-year-old on injured reserve with a calf issue following their 37-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He missed five games before Cleveland designated him to return ahead of a Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Sunday marked just his second game back from injury.

In eight appearances, the 2017 Pro Bowler has run for 386 yards and five touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 174 yards.

This season hasn't gone according to plan for the Browns. They're 6-6 and the questions about Baker Mayfield's long-term future with the franchise are only getting louder.

The running game is one of the few things that has been an unqualified success in Cleveland. The team is fourth in rushing yards, averaging 147.1 yards per game on the ground.  Nick Chubb is once again playing at a Pro Bowl level, while D'Ernest Johnson has performed well when pressed into a meaningful role out of the backfield.

Since signing with the team in 2019, Hunt has been a productive member of the offense and supplemented Chubb nicely. However, Cleveland has shown this year it can still consistently move the chains in his absence.

Many in Cleveland have given up on Baker Mayfield as a franchise quarterback.

But the Browns quarterback still has a fan in The Miz.

"He's injured. Like he's injured," Miz told TMZ Sports. "He's not playing to his highest caliber because he's injured. I mean, how good are you when you're injured, you know what I mean?"

The WWE Superstar said modern fans are too eager to get rid of quarterbacks and there is a reward in being patient.

"You kind of got to stick with people and be like, 'Look, this is our guy.' It's one thing, like, I remember a team that wasn't 6-6 that didn't win a game an entire season and I was still on the bandwagon."

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Mayfield will undergo offseason surgery on the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. He has been playing with a harness for several weeks. 

Miz has been a faithful Browns fan his whole life growing up in Cleveland. The two-time Grand Slam champion says he still "100 percent" believes a Super Bowl is coming back to his hometown this February.

The Browns are 6-6 heading into Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens and would miss the playoffs if the season ended today.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will reportedly need to undergo offseason surgery on his labrum injury to his non-throwing arm.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Mayfield will continue playing with a harness for injuries to his left shoulder for the remainder of the season.

The Oklahoma product has thrown for 2,413 yards and 11 touchdowns against six interceptions through the first 11 games. He missed the Week 7 game against the Denver Broncos because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and he has been wearing a protective harness and playing through the injury throughout most of the season.

Mayfield has had an up-and-down start to his NFL career, throwing for 27 touchdowns as a rookie but struggling in his second season with 21 interceptions.

He bounced back in 2020 with 26 touchdowns to help lead Cleveland to its first playoff appearance since 2002. The Browns topped the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Game, making him the first Cleveland quarterback to earn a postseason win since 1994.

The Browns would turn to veteran Case Keenum if Mayfield misses time. Keenum threw for 199 yards and a touchdown to help lead Cleveland to a win over the Broncos, and he also went 8-of-12 for 81 yards when he replaced Mayfield against the Patriots in Week 10.

The Browns already have a run-heavy offense, so expect that to continue while Mayfield is nursing the injury. Whether it's Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt or even D'Ernest Johnson in the lineup, Cleveland likes to feed its running backs often to take pressure off the passing game.

College Football Hall of Famer Bill Glass died Sunday at the age of 86.

The Texarkana, Texas, native was a standout at Baylor in the 1950s, earning unanimous All-American honors in 1956 as an offensive guard.

From there, Glass spent one season with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1957 before joining the Detroit Lions, who had selected him 12th overall in the 1957 NFL draft. His pro career really took off after the Cleveland Browns acquired him in 1962. That season, he made the first of four Pro Bowls.

In July, Sports Reference announced it had compiled individual sack numbers dating back to 1960—the stat only began to be officially recorded in 1982—and was adding them to Pro Football Reference.

Thanks to that, it's much easier to put Glass' contributions in context. He's the Browns' unofficial all-time sack leader after compiling 77.5 over seven seasons.

During Cleveland's championship-winning season in 1964, Glass finished with 8.5 sacks and was credited with 1.5 in the Browns' 27-0 victory over the Baltimore Colts to clinch its fourth title.

Following the conclusion of his NFL career after the 1968 season, Glass founded Bill Glass Ministries, later known as Bill Glass Behind the Walls, to work with prison inmates.