Cleveland Browns set to get key players back in time for showdown in Pittsburgh

After having 23 players on the COVID-19 list less than two weeks ago, the Cleveland Browns are now the closest to full strength than they have been in a while as they prepare to go to battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The Cleveland Browns playoff hopes are still there, although they are hanging on for dear life.

As they creep towards a must-win game in Pittsburgh, there are now only 3 players on the COVID-19 list, certainly better than the 11 starters they had on the list two weeks ago.

On Tuesday, the Browns activated eight players off of the COVID-19 list.

Then on Thursday, the Browns activated another set of players from the COVID-19 list. Those names included JC Tretter, Greg Newsome ll, Chase McLaughlin, and Jordan Elliot which left only three players on the list.

Myles Garrett, who is working through a nagging groin injury, returned to practice today after not practicing yet this week.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah missed practice today with an illness not related to COVID-19, per the team.

Cleveland’s defense has really come on the second half of this season and is keeping this team in games. While the Green Bay Packers scored 24 points on the Browns, 21 of those points came directly as a result of turnovers by quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The Steelers have been extremely slow starters on the offensive side of the ball as they have only scored a total of nine points in the first half of their past five games. No, that is not a typo.

With Cleveland’s defense as close to full strength as possible, expect a dominant performance at Heinz Field on Monday Night Football.

Hopefully, the Browns’ offense can finally get it going on Monday. As John Johnson said, “run the damn ball”, that is likely the game plan as the Steelers rushing defense is ranked 32nd, dead last in the NFL.

With almost all of the Browns’ key players expected to return to action in time for MNF, the Browns will try to be the spoilers in what will more than likely be Ben Roethlisberger’s last game at Heinz Field.