Browns place Baker Mayfield on COVID-19 list

Baker Mayfield has officially been placed on the COVID-19 list.

The Cleveland Browns have been decimated by the injury bug, as Nick Chubb and Odell Beckham Jr. have both been lost for the year with injuries. While COVID-19 has largely stayed away from the Browns, starting quarterback Baker Mayfield’s potential infection has put his status for their first game after their Week 9 bye in jeopardy.

Mayfield has been placed on the COVID-19 list, which could leave his availability for Cleveland’s game against the Houston Texans in doubt.

On the lighter side of things, Mayfield has not officially tested positive, meaning that he could return to practice as soon as Wednesday if he continues to test negative.

Baker Mayfield has put in some solid performances for the Browns this season

After 21 interceptions in 16 games under head coach Freddie Kitchens, Mayfield has been performing at a much more efficient clip under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, throwing 15 touchdowns against seven interceptions. The Browns might be in one of the toughest divisions in the league, but Mayfield has guided the Browns to a 5-3 mark while putting them on track to end their decades-long playoff drought.

If Mayfield is unable to go, Case Keenum, a well-traveled backup who put together his best career season under Stefanski’s watch with the Minnesota Vikings, will assume starting duties. The Browns are entering an easier part of their schedule, as they’ll play three sub-.500 teams in the Texans, Eagles, and Jaguars as they come off of the bye.

Cleveland has done a very good job of actually weathering the storm caused by some tough injuries, but Mayfield missing a few games might be too much for Stefanski and the Browns to overcome in a very crowded AFC playoff picture.