Team news: New England Patriots | Page 17

Browns most recent COVID-19 testing round, they have been placed in enhanced mitigation protocols by the league.

Adam Schefter reports the team placed the following players on their COVID list: TE Austin Hooper, WR Jarvis Landry, G Wyatt Teller, OT Jedrick Wills, G Drew Forbes, DE Takkarist McKinley, WR JoJo Natson, and Ross Travis.

Today’s team meetings will be virtual and all players, coaches, and tiered personnel must be masked while indoors. Walkthrough practice still scheduled for this afternoon, but will now be closed to the media. More significant, the team is potentially without several starting lineman, as well as Landry and Hooper for this week's game if they aren't able to test negative twice in 24 hours.

49ers RB Elijah Mitchell (finger/ribs/concussion) will not play Week 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals. WR Deebo Samuel (groin) is questionable.

Related Players: Jeff Wilson Jr., JaMycal Hasty

It appears as if Wilson is good to go and will start for the 49ers this week, but look for Hasty to see a decent workload.

Browns TE David Njoku remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will not play Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Related Player: Austin Hooper

Hooper is the only Browns tight end that will be active amongst Hooper, Njoku, and Harrison Bryant. Hooper gets a boost against the Ravens defense that gives up yardage to tight ends.

49ers RB Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) was limited Wednesday.

Related Players: JaMycal Hasty, Brian Hill

If Wilson is out or truly limited Sunday, JaMycal Hasty will more than likely serve as San Francisco's starter. Elijah Mitchell received a clean MRI this week, but is still bothered by his knee injury.

The San Francisco 49ers have signed RB Brian Hill to the active roster.

Related Player: Elijah Mitchell, JaMycal Hasty, Jeff Wilson Jr.

Mitchell and Wilson could be out/limited Sunday, which lead to the addition of Hill. JaMycal Hasty could start if Mitchell and Wilson are out.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen (ankle) will not play Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is questionable.

Related Players: Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, Tyler Conklin

The short week was going to keep Thielen out. While Obsorn is expected to start in Thielen's place, do not be surprised if Tyler Conklin gets more run.

Elijah Mitchell and Trenton Cannon are both in the concussion protocol. They’re unlikely to go through a full practice Wednesday but certainly have a shot to play in Cincinnati. The 49ers also think Deebo Samuel has a good chance to be back this week from his groin injury.

Related players: Jeff Wilson, JaMycal Hasty

The news about Samuel on Tuesday was a bit up and down overall with some reports more positive than others, but the general feeling overall seems like there is a chance he can play in Week 14. This particular story said "good chance." It would certainly be a good sign if Mitchell can practiced in at least a limited form on Wednesday so owners will want to take note. Hasty is probably the team's most healthy running back, but the story thinks Wilson will be able to practice this week after his knee swelled up recently. This RB situation is a fluid one heading into Week 14. To make matters worse, Samuel has had more time running the ball over the last few weeks.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen didn't practice on Tuesday while RB Dalvin Cook was limited.

Related players: Alexander Mattison, Tyler Conklin, K.J. Osborn

Cook, of course, is dealing with a shoulder injury. He was listed as DNP Monday so this is a potential trend in the right direction for Thursday's game with Pittsburgh, but owners probably shouldn't get hopes up just yet. If Cook can't go, it would mean an RB1-type workload for Mattison. Meanwhile, Thielen didn't practice for the second-straight day meaning his status continues to not look good on the short week as he's dealing with his ankle injury. Reports say he's not expected to play, so it should be another big day for Justin Jefferson with Conklin and Osborn also getting more looks.

Browns TE David Njoku will be placed on the COVID-19 reserve list later today.

Related players: Austin Hooper

As a result, Njoku's status for Sunday’s game vs. the Ravens is unclear. He'll of course need two negative tests in 24 hours assuming he's vaccinated. Hooper could get a bump in production if Njoku has to miss time.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (groin) remains day to day, but Shanahan said he is hoping to get him back this week, too.

Related players: Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson, JaMycal Hasty

Samuel was scheduled to miss a week or two, but the Niners hope to see him back for Week 14 after missing Week 13. Mitchell entered concussion protocol on Monday after being cleared on Sunday and after the game, so his status is up in the air, as is Wilson's who had his knee flare up, according to the story. Samuel has been used more as a runner lately but is a weapon the 49ers would love to get back with so many other question marks at RB.