The Buffalo Bills activated wide receiver John Brown off the injured reserve list ahead of Monday's prime-time game at the New England Patriots after he missed a handful of contests due to an ankle injury.
Brown won't play against New England, however, as the Bills added him to the reserve/COVID-19 list hours before kickoff.
Per Nick Shook of the league's official website, Brown had close contact with Buffalo running back T.J. Yeldon, who was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday. Additionally, Buffalo also added running back Christian Wade and safety Josh Thomas to the reserve/COVID-19 list.
While the news is disappointing, it's also business as usual for a Buffalo side that hasn't had Brown in the lineup since a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 15. The Bills won four straight coming off their bye to improve to 11-3 on the campaign and could leapfrog the Pittsburgh Steelers for the No. 2 seed in the AFC postseason bracket with two additional victories.
Brown could be eligible to return for next Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins if he tests negative for COVID-19 throughout the week. The 30-year-old has tallied 29 receptions for 386 yards and two touchdowns this season.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!