CLEVELAND — Browns guard Chris Hubbard was placed on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list Friday after the team announced that a player had received a positive COVID-19 test, forcing the facility to close while contact tracing was conducted.
The team had closed the facility after receiving the positive test results early Friday morning. By Friday afternoon, the team had completed contact tracing and determined that there were zero high-risk close contacts.
Hubbard was placed on the list, created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person, shortly after the Browns announced the facilities were reopening.
The Browns are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status and may not disclose whether a player is in quarantine or has tested positive for COVID-19, per the NFL and NFLPA policy.
Hubbard has played a crucial role for the Browns this season, embodying the “next man up” mentality, most recently by filling in for Wyatt Teller at right guard, who suffered a calf injury in the Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Teller returned to practice Monday and the team is hopeful he will be able to play on Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Friday following practice that Teller is ready to go and is expected to play on Sunday.
As for Hubbard's role as a "sixth man" on the team, Stefanski said he's confident that tackle Kendall Lamm or rookie center Nick Harris will be able to fill that role, if need be, while Hubbard is out.
