Browns coach Kevin Stefanski declared running backs Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton and John Kelly out for Sunday's game at New England.
Two-time Pro Bowler Chubb and rookie Felton were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, while Kelly landed there on Monday.
All would have been required to test negative for two consecutive days to be able to face the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Per league protocols, they can't be activated on Sunday, meaning their second negative test had to come by 4 p.m. Saturday. Stefankski's announcement means the running backs were still symptomatic or tested positive Friday.
D'Ernest Johnson will carry the load at running back against the Patriots. In his third NFL season, Johnson made his first career start and rushed 22 times for 146 yards and a touchdown in a 17-14 home victory over the Denver Broncos on Oct. 21.
The Browns were already without the other half of their 1-2 punch at running back as Kareem Hunt, on injured reserve with a calf strain suffered against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 17, will miss his fourth consecutive game.
"Any position you can look at and say you're going to get into your depth at some point in the season because that's the nature of this beast," Stefanski said Friday. "It's the next-man-up mentality. The guys have proven to do that over the course of this season, last season. So whoever's available to us, that's who we'll use."
Asked if fullback Andy Janovich or receiver Jarvis Landry might get some carries against the Patriots, Stefanski said, "A lot of people want some carries on this team. We've got plenty of guys and we'll be able to run our offense."
The Browns signed running back Brian Hill to the practice squad on Tuesday.
Chubb ranks third in the league in rushing with 721 yards (6.0 average per carry) in seven games. He's scored six rushing touchdowns, recording two, including a 70-yarder, in Sunday's 41-16 victory at Cincinnati.
"I do not think that is arguable at all. I think he is one of the very best running backs in the league," Browns two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett said. "We are going to have his back and fully support him, and he is going to fully support us. He knows that we are going to do our best to keep on pushing our running game and trying to produce like we usually have.
"Of course, it will be different, but it is next man up. Draw up different plays. We will try to do things a little bit differently for the men we have to create big plays rushing the ball. I don't think we will miss a beat because of the guys we have, but it is just different not having such a dominant force out there."
