Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – As the Browns head to Houston where they’ll try to end the Texans’ eight-game win streak, there’s a chance safety Damarious Randall won’t be available.
Randall was limited during Friday's practice and added to the injury report with a hamstring injury.
Interim head coach Gregg Williams didn’t sound worried about Randall's availability Sunday.
“Do not think so. Just making sure that we are taking care [of him],” Williams said.
Randall, who has played through a multitude of injuries this season but was sat against Kansas City, has broken up eight passes to go with three interceptions and a fumble recovery this season.
Last week in Cincinnati, Randall intercepted Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in the second quarter and promptly handed the football to former Browns head coach and Bengals special assistant Hue Jackson.
New play caller – Freddie Kitchens isn’t the only new play caller for the Browns.
Linebackers coach, and son of Gregg Williams, Blake Williams has taken over calling defensive plays on Sunday’s, but that doesn’t mean he has taken over the defense.
“Gregg is still the defensive coordinator,” Blake Williams said.
“I make the call, but he has override or veto power.”
Williams added, “There is a difference between the responsibilities of a coordinator and then the calling of a play. Those are two very different things. From that standpoint, nothing has changed.”
Blake Williams began calling the defensive plays two weeks ago in the 28-16 win over the Falcons Nov. 11, simultaneous to the return of linebacker Joe Schobert from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games.
For Williams, Schobert is essentially a coach on the field.
“53 is special. Joe Schobert is special,” Blake Williams said.
“Schobes definitely has those qualities in him. That is the thing I think you see about him is I think a mark of a great player is if you can raise the level of play around everyone around you by doing more and then at the same time you yourself can play at a high level. Those are the things that we are seeing in his young career.”
Rocking the vote – Rookie cornerback Denzel Ward currently is the leading vote-getter among AFC cornerbacks for a second straight week according to voting results released by the NFL this week.
“I appreciate a lot of fans and people think highly of me,” Ward said. “I appreciate that and I just have to keep working hard and keep proving myself every week.”
Ward, who has received over 213,000 votes, is tied for second among rookies with three interceptions and he also has a pair of fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, 11 pass break-ups, and blocked field goal this season.
Despite his success, Ward is trying to keep his focus on the big picture – winning games.
“We’re on a roll right now, back to back wins so just trying to keep that going and stay positive, and finish the season strong,” Ward said.
Cheap bet – Ward collected his hundred bucks this week from safety Jabrill Peppers after Ward’s Ohio State Buckeyes took Peppers’ Michigan Wolverines to the woodshed last Saturday at The Shoe, 62-39.
“Jabrill cheap so he didn't want [to do more]. It's cool though,” Ward said of the bet.
Peppers took defeat like a man.
“That’s it, man of my word,” Peppers said. “They could’ve gotten me for more because I was overly confident.”
While Ward would’ve loved to get Peppers into some scarlet and gray, he’ll take the W.
“I was definitely surprised,” Ward said. “I knew they were going to win but didn't know it was going to be by that margin. They definitely showed out and hopefully they get in the playoffs.”
Rookie of the Week, again – Baker Mayfield was voted the Pepsi Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season on Friday.
Mayfield threw four touchdown passes in the Browns’ 35-20 win at Cincinnati that snapped a 25-game road losing streak for the franchise.
Mayfield, who was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Month for November, also won the weekly honor in Week 3, 7 and 9 and a Browns rookie has now won the award eight times in 12 weeks.
Compromising photos – Williams apparently has the goods on general manager John Dorsey.
“If you guys need any pictures sometime of Dorsey playing, I have some creative pictures,” Williams said. “Some pictures that he cannot run away from, I have those.
“Make sure that he hears this because I know that he is a little bit nervous about some of the pictures that I have.”
Injury report – Out: OL Austin Corbett (foot)
Questionable: S Damarious Randall (hamstring)
Expected to play: C JC Tretter (ankle), TE David Njoku (knee), TE Seth DeValve (calf), DT Larry Ogunjobi (shoulder), LB Tanner Vallejo (knee), DB Tavierre Thomas (abdomen)
