Raiders vs. Browns Saturday NFL injury report, odds: Spread dives again as Baker Mayfield likely out (COVID), Case Keenum expected starting quarterback

At 7-6 and sitting eighth in the AFC standings, the Cleveland Browns face essentially a must-win home game for their playoff hopes against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, but the Browns now likely will be without quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Kevin Stefanski, among potentially several others, due to COVID protocols. Cleveland opened as high as -6.5 but is now down to -1.5 at man books with the likelihood that Case Keenum will start at QB and the team so short-handed overall.

Both Mayfield and Stefanski, who calls the offensive plays, have tested positive, so it's highly unlikely they will turn in two negatives tests by Saturday morning to be cleared. According to reports, both are asymptomatic. That doesn't matter.

Keenum won his lone start for the Browns this year on a Thursday night in Week 7 as Cleveland beat Denver 17-14 with Mayfield out injured. Keenum was a solid 21-for-33 for 199 yards and a TD, but the Browns largely rode third-string running back D'Ernest Johnson that night as he rushed 22 times for 146 yards and a TD with both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt out injured at the time. Chubb is healthy now but Hunt is hurt again.

Nick Mullens would serve as Keenum's backup and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer would serve as Cleveland's acting head coach. On Tuesday, the Browns placed eight other players on the COVID list, including four offensive starters in five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry, offensive guard Wyatt Teller, tight end Austin Hooper and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.

According to multiple reports, even more positive results are expected, but the NFL has no plans as of now to postpone the game. "There's been no discussion of changing the game's status," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Pro Football Talk via email. The NFL hasn't postponed a game yet this season. The NBA and NHL have postponed a few games each this week alone.

The Raiders as of this writing don't appear to have a major COVID issue but likely again will be without Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. He injured his knee in Week 12 and hasn't played since.

The SportsLine Projection Model gives Cleveland a 31.3 percent chance of making the playoffs entering Week 15 but a loss would be devastating with a trip to Green Bay (and a likely loss) on Christmas up next.

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