Raiders vs. Browns NFL injury report, odds: Spread in flux for Monday's game as Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum fail to clear protocol, Nick Mullens to start at QB

The Cleveland Browns are battling for their playoff lives in NFL Week 15, and the current NFL COVID surge  certainly isn't doing them any favors in the NFL injury report. Their home game against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders (6-7) was moved from Saturday to Monday at 5 p.m. ET, but the Browns (7-6) aren't in any better shape for what is essentially a must-win game. 

Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and backup Case Keenum won't suit up for the Browns after failing to clear COVID protocols Monday. That means Nick Mullens is expected to be the starter. Cleveland opened as high as -6.5 but the spread is down to -1.5 at many books with Mullens calling the shots and the team facing numerous other losses.

The Browns had hoped the NFL's decision to move the game to Monday would give the players a chance to post a negative test and be cleared on the NFL injury report. But neither quarterback tested negative Monday. The only player removed from the COVID list was safety John Johnson.  

The Cleveland offense also will be without receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper and running back Kareem Hunt. On the defensive side, the Browns will be missing end Jadaveon Clowney, tackle Malik McDowell and safety Grant Delpit, among many others.

The Browns have 19 players on the COVID/reserve list, with almost half of those player starters. The team also will be without head coach Kevin Stefanski, who tested positive last week. He also failed to clear the testing protocol Monday, so special teams coordinator Mike Priefer is expected to act as Cleveland's head coach and Alex Van Pelt will call the plays.

Mullens went 2-6 for the 49ers last season in place of Jimmy Garoppolo, and he is 5-11 in his career as a starter, all with San Francisco. He has completed 64.5 percent of his passes, with 4,714 passing yards, 25 TDs and 22 interceptions in his career.

Mullens made his NFL debut with the 49ers in a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Raiders in 2018, throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-3 victory.  

The Raiders have lost five of their last six and are on the brink of elimination from the playoff race after losing 48-9 to the Chiefs last week. 

Las Vegas doesn't have any major injury issues and has not seen a major COVID outbreak. The Raiders will still be missing Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, who hasn't played since injuring his knee in Week 12.

The SportsLine Projection model gives Cleveland a 25,5 percent chance of making the playoffs, while the Raiders are at just 7.3. Cleveland faces Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to close out the regular season.

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