The Browns announced Saturday that CB Denzel Ward won't come off the COVID list in time to face the Steelers on Sunday. Slot CB Kevin Johnson will also remain on the list. That leaves Cleveland down at least 2 of its top 3 corners against pass-heavy Pittsburgh. And we're waiting to see whether CB Terrance Mitchell will play. He's questionable with a non-injury issue.

The Browns have activated S Ronnie Harrison, TE Harrison Bryant and LB Malcolm Smith from the COVID list. That makes all 3 available for Sunday's game against the Steelers. None figures to be a big fantasy factor. Harrison carries nice tackle upside for IDP lineups, though, against a pass-heavy Pittsburgh offense.

Browns DE Myles Garrett is questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers with a shoulder injury he apparently sustained in Friday's practice. He turned up limited that day after being estimated as a full participant the previous 2 days. Cleveland, of course, didn't actually practice until Friday, so it's a tough situation to read. We'll see about his status on Sunday. Losing Garrett would obviously be a huge blow for an already lackluster defense and a team with big COVID issues for the playoff opener. DT Sheldon Richardson (neck) and CB Terrance Mitchell are also questionable. Mitchell's issue is not injury related, so it's not yet clear what puts his status in question. The Browns also don't yet know if CB Denzel Ward will be able to come off the COVID list in time for the game against Pittsburgh.

Browns DE Olivier Vernon suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon in Sunday's win over the Steelers. He'll obviously miss the playoffs and face a challenging offseason rehab. It's particularly poor timing with Vernon set to hit free agency in March -- at age 30. We'll see what 2021 holds.

Browns CB Denzel Ward landed on the COVID list this week, and Cleveland.com reports that he tested positive. That means Ward will not only miss Sunday's game against the Steelers but might also not be back in time for a playoff opener next weekend. We'll see about his status for that contest next week.

The Browns have activated S Ronnie Harrison from IR. He missed the past 4 games with a shoulder injury. That follows closely behind the team placing safeties Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo on the COVID list. So expect Harrison to jump back into the starting lineup for this game. In his previous 3 games of full duty, Harrison posted 8, 10 and 6 tackles and broke up a pass in each. He also hit up the Colts for a pick-6 plus a 2nd pass defensed in the game before that span. He'll carry upside against the Mason Rudolph Steelers this week -- especially with LB B.J. Goodson also sidelined with COVID, raising the tackle upside.

He Browns have placed LB B.J. Goodson on the COVID list. That obviously knocks him out for Sunday’s game against the Jets. He’s likely the player that the team announced earlier in the day had tested positive. In that case, Goodson would likely miss Week 17 as well. Malcolm Smith looks like the best bet to lead Cleveland LBs in snaps while Goodson is out, with Jacob Phillips and Sione Takitaki behind him. Smith is the only one we’d consider for IDP use this week, in most cases

The Browns announced Saturday that they have closed team headquarters and delayed their flight for Sunday's game with the Jets while running contact tracing following a positive COVID test for a player. They have yet to announce which player tested positive, so we're still waiting to see the potential fantasy impact. Check back for updates.

Browns DT Sheldon Richardson left Sunday night's win over the Giants with a neck injury. X-rays came back negative, according to Andrew Gribble of the team website. We'll see about Richardson's status heading into next Sunday's matchup with the Jets, Richardson's original team.

Browns CB Denzel Ward (calf) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants. He put in limited practices all week after missing the past 3 games. Ward is a low-level fantasy option, and the Sunday night kickoff makes it risky to wait on him. We'll update his status Sunday evening, though.

Browns S Ronnie Harrison will miss 4-6 weeks with the shoulder injury that knocked him out on the 1st play of Sunday's win over the Jaguars. That leaves Karl Joseph to step back into the lineup for Sunday's matchup with Tennessee. Joseph opened the season starting next to Andrew Sendejo before Harrison displaced him. Joseph provided little fantasy value during his starting stint.

The Browns expect to activate DE Myles Garrett off the COVID list Wednesday, which would make him eligible to return for Sunday's game against the Titans. Garrett missed the past 2 contests but should obviously return to IDP lineups going forward. He trails Rams DE Aaron Donald by just 0.5 for the NFL sack lead.

Browns S Andrew Sendejo (groin) is active for today's game against the Jaguars. He's a low-level IDP option, though it's an upside matchup in QB Mike Glennon's 1st start for Jacksonville.

The Browns expect lead CB Denzel Ward to miss "a few weeks" with a calf strain he suffered in Sunday's win over the Eagles, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports. That leaves Cleveland without its top cover man and top pass rusher (DE Myles Garrette on COVID reserve) for Sunday's game against the Jaguars. The Browns defense still looks attractive, though, against a Jacksonville offense that hasn't topped 260 total yards since Week 9 and tossed 4 INTs to Pittsburgh in Week 11.

Browns S Ronnie Harrison escaped with only a bone bruise after leaving Sunday's game with a knee injury. According to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, HC Kevin Stefanski says Harrison has a shot to face the Jaguars on Sunday. We'll see about his participation through the week.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said Monday that DE Myles Garrett will miss another game on the COVID list. That puts him out for another upside matchup against Jacksonville. Porter Gustin started in Garrett's place against the Eagles, got his most playing time since Week 3 and notched a QB hit. He'll be just a low-level option against the Jaguars, though.