Browns-Steelers still on for Sunday despite COVID-19 concerns

It appears the NFL won't be altering the Week 17 schedule before 2020 comes to an end. 

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com has reported that Sunday's game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers remains on for Sunday, as scheduled, despite the Browns discovering multiple positive COVID-19 test results on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Cleveland's practice facility will remain closed until Friday morning, at the earliest, and top cornerback Denzel Ward, linebackers Malcolm Smith and B.J. Goodson, tight end Harrison Bryant, and safety Andrew Sendejo are all out for Sunday's divisional showdown due to COVID-19. 

While the Steelers clinched the AFC North title in Week 16, Cleveland must win on the final Sunday of the regular season to secure itself a playoff berth. A Browns loss coupled with the Indianapolis Colts defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars would propel Indianapolis to the conference's last postseason spot and bounce Cleveland from the playoffs. 

Per Daryl Ruiter of radio station 92.3 The Fan, the Browns can back into the playoffs via seven scenarios that don't involve a Cleveland win over Pittsburgh. 

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has announced that he's resting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and other starters on Sunday. If, however, the Browns continue to run out of available players because of coronavirus testing and contact tracing through the weekend, the NFL may have no other choice than to step in. 

History shows the league won't make such a move until absolutely necessary.