Raiders-Browns game postponed until Monday

Well, your Saturday is now free. However, you better start working on clearing your Monday schedule.

On Friday, the NFL decided to move the Las Vegas Raiders game at the Cleveland Browns to Monday from Saturday because of a major COVID-19 outbreak among the Browns, according to NFL reporter Josina Anderson.

Sports Illustrated is reporting the game will be played at 2 p.m. PT on Monday.

It is now official:

On Friday, Browns standout defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was the latest Cleveland player to test positive and be placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list. He was the 11th Browns’ starter to be placed on the list this week, making that 21 players on the list in total including the Browns’ two top quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum. Cleveland coach Kevin Stenfaski is also on the COVID list.

The Browns have a chance to get many of the players back in time for the rescheduled game. It is not known yet if the Raiders have a chance to get tight end Darren Waller, linebacker Denzel Perryman and cornerback Trayvon Mullen ready, however. On Thursday, they were ruled out of the Saturday game.

The NFL and the NFL Players Association huddled Friday morning and came to the agreement to move the game (Cleveland center JC Tretter is the president of the NFLPA). The Rams vs. Seahawks and Washington Football Team vs. Eagles games are also being moved this week because of COVID issues.

Raiders owner Mark Davis told ESPN that it is a “competitive disadvantage” for the Raiders for the game to be moved, suggesting that the Browns now fly to Las Vegas instead.

This is the first NFL game to be rescheduled this season because of COVID. Some games were changed in 2020. Players would not be paid if games are forfeited.

ESPN reported that the Raiders wanted the Browns to forfeit rather than reschedule.

The Browns were not forced to forfeit this game because the outbreak was among vaccinated players and most of them were not showing symptoms.

The Raiders will have the extra rest this week, but they will have a short week in Week 16 as they host the Denver Broncos on Dec. 27. The Raiders were set to travel to Cleveland minutes before the game was rescheduled.

The Raiders aren’t pleased about it.

On the bright side, the weather in Cleveland is supposed to be better on Monday, forecast as clear and in the high 30s — opposed to the rainy, windy weather on Saturday night.