CLEVELAND — The NFL has moved the game between the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders to Monday night amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak that several teams are experiencing.
>>PREVIOUS REPORT: Browns HC Stefanski, QB Mayfield test positive for COVID-19; Saturday game status in question
The game in Cleveland, originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, has been moved to Monday at 5 p.m., according to an announcement from the NFL Friday afternoon. The move sets up for a double-header Monday night with the regularly-scheduled Monday Night Football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears which will start at 8:20 p.m.
>>NFL updates protocols as COVID-19 cases rise around league
The COVID outbreak involving the Browns has so far made several key players unable to play including quarterback Baker Mayfield, backup quarterback Case Keenum, and several others. Head coach Kevin Stefanski also tested positive and is slated to miss the game unless he, and the players who tested positive, provide two negative tests before the scheduled game.
>>AP source: Browns QB Keenum, 4 more positive for COVID-19
“We have made these schedule changes based on medical advice and after discussion with the NFLPA as we are seeing a new, highly transmissible form of the virus this week resulting in a substantial increase in cases across the league,” a league spokesperson said in a media statement.
Week 15 @NFL Schedule Changes: https://t.co/tdKLONthQn pic.twitter.com/w6iNuaLYwc
— NFL345 (@NFL345) December 17, 2021
>>AP source: Clowney latest Browns player to test positive
Two other Week 15 games, Washington at Philadelphia and Seattle at the Los Angeles Rams, will also be moved to Tuesday. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
The change in the Browns’ game schedule could also cause a change in future games the following week. If the Browns play Monday, they are currently scheduled to play Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers. There would only be five days between games, which could prompt the NFL to move that game as well.
This is a developing story and we’ll continue to update this page as we learn more.
©2021 Cox Media Group
