The Cleveland Browns were given a gift late last week.
The NFL postponed Saturday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders to Monday as the Browns were dealing with nonstop positive COVID tests.
That knocked Baker Mayfield and backup Case Keenum out of the game and the hope was the extra time would allow one of the two to come back.
Instead, the extra time did not allow that and it will be the Nick Mullens show in Cleveland.
#Browns QBs Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum didn’t test out of COVID protocols, so it’ll be Nick Mullens starting today against the #Raiders, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 20, 2021
Mullens is not the worst option as a backup, but the news is still not uplifting to fans in Cleveland.
Faith In Nick Mullens
Monday night’s game against Las Vegas is a monumental one for the Browns in 2021.
If they win they jump up to first place in the AFC North.
If they lose they remain in the basement.
So who is Mullens?
He spent three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 2018-2020 and made 16 starts in that span.
He had 25 touchdowns combined and added a few 300-yard games in 2020.
Mullens could easily be a true backup somewhere in the NFL and is much better than your average third-string signal-caller.
But winning or losing won’t just come down to Mullens.
The Browns need players all over the roster to step up given the list of absences.
A full list of who the #Browns will be missing tonight, and who remains on the COVID list: pic.twitter.com/8rxm7Sat0K
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 20, 2021
Every position group is affected, including special teams as punter Jamie Gillan is out again.
The NFL has changed its protocols moving forward for vaccinated players.
Only those showing symptoms will have to be tested for COVID-19.
Yet the past rules are still in place this week and a player won’t come out of the protocol for not showing symptoms.
This is frustrating, but all part of the changing nature of living with the virus in our world.
Mullens can allow Browns fans to get some holiday joy by adding his name to the list of Cleveland starting quarterbacks since 1999 with a win.
NEXT: Nick Mullens Set To Start At QB For The Browns In A Must-Win