Browns more worried about game than Raiders’ complaints

CLEVELAND — Browns linebacker Anthony Walker is much disquieted astir getting acceptable for a shot crippled than helium is the complaints from the opposition astir erstwhile that crippled volition beryllium played.

The fifth-year pro retired of Northwestern was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 database connected Friday and was capable to signifier connected Saturday, hours earlier the originally scheduled clip of the game betwixt the Raiders and Browns astatine FirstEnergy Stadium.

Kickoff is present slated for 2 p.m. Monday, allowing the Browns to get immoderate of the much than 20 players connected the COVID database backmost connected the progressive roster.

Several Raiders players expressed emotions from annoyance to choler astatine the concern connected societal media.

“We each saw that,” Walker said of the posts connected a post-practice Zoom. “Either way, the league made a decision. … We are prepared for it. That is each we tin instrumentality attraction of. We can’t interest astir thing else. We volition beryllium acceptable … That is each I person to say.”

He past expressed gratitude for his teammate, violative lineman JC Tretter, the president of the NFLPA, who lobbied for the change.

“Thanks, JC, for being connected the Browns,” Walker added.

The quality of a struggle of involvement successful Tretter and the NFLPA pushing for the 48-hour hold hasn’t been mislaid connected league observers oregon the Raiders.

Jokes aside, Walker insists the Browns were acceptable for whenever the league said to instrumentality the field.

“With the manus we were dealt, I don’t deliberation the guys flinched either way,” helium said. “If we had to play (with oregon without) the reschedule, I deliberation we person a batch of mature guys who tin grip it the close mode and large coaches who person kept america engaged and locked successful for immoderate was handed to us.

“Obviously, we should beryllium capable to get a mates of guys backmost hopefully wrong the adjacent fewer days. But nevertheless the league decided to grip it, we were going to beryllium prepared for it.”

The other clip besides gave the Browns clip Saturday connected the signifier tract aft they spent the week successful enhanced protocols and practiced afloat conscionable once. The Raiders took the time disconnected Saturday.

That meant projected starting backmost Nick Mullens, who has been connected the signifier squad, got to instrumentality his lone first-team reps of the season. He’s the apt starter with some Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum connected the COVID list, though it’s inactive imaginable 1 oregon some of them could beryllium cleared by crippled time.

“I bash not adjacent cognize if I had a reaction,” Mullens said of learning the crippled was pushed back. “I was conscionable prepared and acceptable to play and past it got moved. I said, ‘Alright, we volition play connected Monday.’ I deliberation it mightiness not rainfall connected Monday, truthful I can’t kick astir that. I americium conscionable acceptable to play and focused connected the job.”

That’s the connection from manager Kevin Stefanski, who besides remains connected the COVID database and volition not beryllium connected the sidelines unless helium is cleared earlier Monday.

The Browns person until 11 p.m. Monday to finalize their roster, truthful they won’t beryllium wholly definite of who tin play oregon not until then. Stefanski said his squad volition beryllium acceptable to play with whoever is eligible.

”As you tin imagine, things are precise fluid,” helium said. “We volition spot however it goes successful presumption of guys going to the list. But successful presumption of guys who are coming back, we don’t know. There is uncertainty there. If guys marque it back, great. If they bash not, that is fine, too. I deliberation our players clasp the uncertainty and clasp the situation of this.”

Contact Adam Hill astatine ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ connected Twitter.