DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES NEWS

Added competition Sunday Peoples-Jones will compete with KhaDarel Hodge for snaps in this weekend's divisional-round playoff game against Kansas City on Sunday.

Impact The Browns activated Hodge from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, after the receiver had missed last week's playoff-opening win over Pittsburgh. The last time both players were completely healthy and available for a full game was Week 12 against Jacksonville, when Peoples-Jones had a 16-percent share of the snaps while Hodge played 43 percent of the snaps. Since then, either player has been inactive due to injury/illness or injured during a game, so it's uncertain how the two will divvy up the load Sunday against Kansas City. Ultimately, it may not matter. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski may want to keep Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes off the field, and that can be best achieved by leaning on running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Minor role in playoff win Peoples-Jones caught one of two targets for eight yards in Sunday's 48-37 wild-card win over Pittsburgh.

Impact Peoples-Jones worked himself back from a concussion suffered Week 17 of the regular season. With KhaDarel Hodge (reserve/COVID-19) unavailable, Peoples-Jones' availability was a welcome development, but he played a minor role in the win, despite playing a significant 46 snaps. The rookie was fifth on the target list behind Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Austin Hooper and Nick Chubb. Cleveland moves onto the AFC divisional round next Sunday for a road game against the No. 1 seed Chiefs.

JANUARY 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Suits up against Steelers Peoples-Jones (concussion) is listed as active for Sunday night's playoff opener against the Steelers.

Impact This is good news for the Browns, with KhaDarel Hodge on the reserve/COVID-19 list. In that context, Peoples-Jones, who suffered a concussion during Week 17 action, will give it a go Sunday and will be in the mix for wide receiver snaps and targets behind top options Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins.

JANUARY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable for Sunday Peoples-Jones (concussion) is questionable for Sunday's playoff game against the Steelers, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Impact The 21-year-old suffered the concussion Week 17, though he'll practice Friday after clearing the concussion protocol, per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. While Peoples-Jones' status is cloudy, he appears on track to play Sunday.

JANUARY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Browns finally practice, roster still unsettled for Steelers

The Browns finally practiced for the playoffs

JANUARY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dealing with concussion Peoples-Jones (concussion) remained listed as a non-participant on Thursday's practice estimate, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Impact If Peoples-Jones isn't cleared for Sunday's playoff game against the Steelers, Marvin Hall, Alexander Hollins and possibly Ja'Marcus Bradley could be in the mix for added wideout snaps behind starters Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins this weekend.

JANUARY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Unable to practice Wednesday Peoples-Jones (concussion) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Impact Cleveland just held a walkthrough Wednesday, but Peoples-Jones was the only non-participant on the injury report, which doesn't bode well for his chances of clearing the league's five-step concussion protocol in time to face the Steelers in the wild-card round Sunday. The wide receiver and return man will have two more practices to show progress in his recovery from the concussion he sustained in last week's win over the Steelers.

JANUARY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Browns' Stefanski: 'We've got to find a way' vs Steelers

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski says he feels well despite contracting COVID-19, but that he's obviously disappointed he'll have to miss Sunday's playoff game in Pittsburgh

JANUARY 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mayfield pushes Browns back into AFC playoffs, prominence

Baker Mayfield promised to lead the Browns back to prominence

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Browns lose DE Vernon for playoffs with torn Achilles tendon

Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon’s season is over after he ruptured his Achilles tendon during Sunday’s playoff-clinching win over Pittsburgh

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Murray returns from ankle injury, can't rally Cardinals

Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray sat out most of the first three quarters with an ankle injury and when he finally returned, wasn’t able to rally the Cardinals into the playoffs

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Browns end long playoff drought, survive late Steelers rally

The Cleveland Browns are back in the playoffs

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Concussion confirmed Peoples-Jones was diagnosed with a concussion and won't return to Sunday's game against the Steelers.

Impact Peoples-Jones finished the game with one reception (on three targets) for 11 yards. The rookie wideout will enter the league's five-step concussion protocol. KhaDarel Hodge figures to see an expanded role behind Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins.

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Exits Sunday's game Peoples-Jones was forced out of Sunday's game against the Steelers with a possible concussion, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Impact Prior to his exit from the contest, Peoples-Jones caught one of his three targets for 11 yards. Next up for Cleveland's wide receiver snaps behind Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins is KhaDarel Hodge.

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Browns lose another defender, CB Johnson added to COVID list

Already down several key players, the Browns said they will also be without cornerback Kevin Johnson Sunday as they try to end their playoff drought

JANUARY 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rejoins roster The Browns reinstated Peoples-Jones from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

Impact Along with Peoples-Jones, the Browns also activated Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, Jarvis Landry and Jacob Phillips after all five players sat out last week's loss to the Jets following their respective placements on the list. Before sitting out the Week 16 game, Peoples-Jones had seemingly usurped Hodge as the Browns' No. 3 receiver. With that in mind, expect Cleveland to deploy Landry, Higgins and Peoples-Jones as their starting receivers in Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Steelers.

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Slated to come off COVID list Peoples-Jones is in line to come off the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Impact The same applies to Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and KhaDarel Hodge, with all four wideouts on track to be available to take the field Thursday, should the Browns hold an actual practice.

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Browns lose CB Ward for Steelers game after positive test

The Browns are trying to shake free from COVID-19 to face the Steelers

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mayfield: Browns 'in our playoffs, just one week early'

The Cleveland Browns are dealing with more COVID-19 cases as they prepare for their biggest game in years

DECEMBER 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Browns add 3 more players to crowded COVID-19 reserve list

With their biggest game in years just days away, the Browns added three more players to their lengthy COVID-19 list

DECEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Latest: Arizona State men's basketball game postponed

COVID-19 issues in Arizona State’s men’s basketball program have led to the postponement of Thursday’s game at Washington State

DECEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Browns fumble away first shot at playoffs amid wild weekend

The Browns fumbled away their first crack at a playoff spot

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Browns' COVID contact players eligible to return Thursday

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said the players who missed Sunday’s loss because of COVID-19 protocols are eligible to return to practice Thursday as Cleveland gets ready to face Pit...

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Browns' playoff chances take hit with 23-16 loss to Jets

Baker Mayfield coughed up the ball and the Cleveland Browns' chances to wrap up a playoff spot

DECEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Browns lose another player vs; Jets, starting LT Wills out

Already down four wide receivers due to COVID-19 protocols, the Cleveland Browns will also be without starting rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills when they play the New York Jets wit...

DECEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS