The Cleveland Browns have placed cornerback Kevin Johnson on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Saturday night.
We've made the following roster moves:
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 3, 2021
Placed on reserve/COVID-19:
CB Kevin Johnson
Elevated from practice squad:
CB A.J. Green (Contagious Disease Addendum)
Johnson’s designation makes six Browns players and three in the secondary that will be unavailable for the regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
They will also be without cornerback Denzel Ward, safety Andrew Sendejo, tight end Harrison Bryant and linebackers B.J. Goodson and Malcom Smith. Cleveland also has three coaches sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols in offensive line coach Bill Callahan, assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters and wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea.
The NFL decided to take extra precautions on Sunday morning following Johnson’s positive test late Saturday night, opting to administer the Browns rapid-result on game day, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The additional testing revealed no new positives.
The #Browns had one more positive COVID-19 case yesterday with a player who was experiencing symptoms, per source. Out of an abundance of caution, the league is doing some additional rapid-result tests this morning. So far, so good, and game remains on as scheduled vs. #Steelers.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 3, 2021
Cleveland elevated cornerback A.J. Green from the practice squad to replace Johnson using the Contagious Disease addendum.
In his sixth season out of Wake Forest and first with Cleveland, Johnson has started six games for the Browns this season, recording three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a recovery.