CLEVELAND — A longstanding NFL policy prohibits team employees from engaging in electronic communication about competitive or strategic information during games,a league spokesperson told News 5 media partner at the Akron Beacon Journal.
On Tuesday, Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19 and he won’t be able to join the Browns (11-5) when they visited the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) for an AFC wild-card playoff game at 8:15 p.m. at Heinz Field.
Akron Beacon Journal reporter Nate Ulrich asked if the league would make an exception for Stefanski because the Browns face a unique situation with their head coach missing a playoff game due to COVID-19, and league spokesperson Brian McCarthy wrote in a email, “No change. And we didn’t make an exception for the Lions during the regular season either.”
Stefanski said Wednesday that he didn’t know whether the Browns had asked the league to make an exception.
"I don't know," Stefanski said on Zoom. "I just know what the rules are, and I'll follow them." Read the full article here.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will be Cleveland’s acting coach Sunday while Stefanski is away. According to NFL rules, anyone testing positive must sit out at least 10 days.
Two coach staff members—tight ends coach Drew Petzing and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard —tested positive as well.
According to the Browns, Joel Bitonio and KhaDarel Hodge have tested positive for COVID-19.
RELATED: Browns' Stefanski positive for COVID-19, out of playoff game
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