Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is ineligible to start in Monday’s contest against the Las Vegas Raiders after being placed on his team’s COVID-19 reserve list.
NFL.com first reported on Monday that Mayfield and backup quarterback Case Keenum failed to test out of COVID-19 protocols, leaving third-string quarterback Nick Mullens to start this week.
Mayfield, who’s in his fourth season with Cleveland, said on Instagram that he “had no symptoms” and was “praying to test negative for COVID,” according to ESPN.
Cleveland will also be without head coach Kevin Stefanski after he tested positive for the virus last week.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach for the game, ESPN reported.
Cleveland’s contest against Las Vegas, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed to Monday due to the Browns’ COVID-19 outbreak.
The NFL recently revised its COVID-19 protocols by loosening testing requirements for fully vaccinated players who are not showing any virus symptoms, ending the weekly testing mandate for those players.
Twenty-two players are still on the Browns’ COVID-19 reserve list, including wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
Safety John Johnson III and guard Wyatt Teller were activated off the team’s COVID-19 list and will participate in Monday’s game, ESPN noted.