BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – As the Browns begin preparations for this week’s game against the New York Giants, key injuries to the offensive tackles are back at the forefront.
Here’s the top Brownie Bites from Wednesday.
Another week – Tight end David Njoku is “unlikely this week” according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Njoku missed last week’s game due to an ankle sprain suffered in Week 1. Njoku left Huntington Bank Field wearing a walking boot on his right leg following the 33-17 loss to the Cowboys but the Browns opted not to place him on injured reserve.
Hope at tackle– Right tackle Dawand Jones did not practice Wednesday bringing more attention to the Browns tackle situation as they wait for Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr., who missed the first two games of the season, to return from knee surgeries. “His injury occurred in the game,” Stefanski said. “He's out today but can't really go past today…. I understand the questions guys. I would just tell you with any injury you have to concern yourself with that day, how they feel in practice, how they feel coming out of practice, those types of things.” Conklin sounded optimistic but neither he nor Wills participated in the sled drills during the portion of practice open to reporters. “I'm feeling better and better every week,” Conklin said. “So I think there's a good shot if this week goes we'll be ready to roll.” Wills, not so much. “I'm getting there,” Wills said. “I don't know when I'll be playing. [It’s] Up to the coaches. Maybe this week, maybe next week. Just depends.” Jones downplayed the severity of his injury, simply referring to it as soreness and his belief he will play Sunday. “It should be nothing,” Jones said. “Should be able to get back [for Sunday].”
Warden check – Denzel Ward played 11 snaps against Jacksonville but practiced Wednesday. “I’m hopeful,” Stefanski said. Ward, who was limited Wednesday, didn’t sound like he’s going to be held back much this week. “I'm feeling great, man, feeling good,” Ward said. “Ready to get to the game and ready to roll. Where did that occur? Practice my shoulder first game. But I'm good that, like I said, I feel good ready to go.” Ward has broken up four passes through two games this season and his 80 pass breakups since 2018 rank second-most in the NFL over that span.
Call it both ways – Considering the volume of holding penalties called against the Browns the first two weeks, defensive end Myles Garrett isn’t receiving the same respect from officials. On Sunday, Garrett was literally tackled trying to get around Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson. “I have a conversation with the officials before every game and I talk about our number 95,” Stefanski said. “He knows that he gets extra attention, he gets chips, he gets a slide to him. Officials are going to miss calls, but we expect when there's an obvious one, we expect it to be called.”
Foot rest – Garrett did not practice Wednesday as the team is making sure he gets as much rest for his aching foot as possible during the week so he can continue to play through the injury.
Extra protection – Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is one of few players to take advantage of wearing a guardian cap during games. “I'll continue to wear it until it starts to slip off or something like that,” Owusu-Koramoah said. He is the first and only Browns player to wear it to get as much protection as he can. “Guys already kind get on me because I'll be wearing elbow pad,” Owusu-Koramoa said. “They’re like, ‘your elbow's not hurt.’ I’m like preventative wise, I’ll be wearing shin pads and stuff like that. So that's just kind of been my vibration. I like to have a lot of things on while I play just to, again, I had those issues the first two years dealing with injuries, so I wanted to find something that kind of worked for me.”
Hall of returners – Former Browns receivers and returners Eric Metcalf and Josh Cribbs were among 167 modern-era nominees announced on Wednesday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A Screening Committee will reduce the list to 50 (plus ties, if any, for the 50th spot). The results of that reduction will be announced in mid-October. The full 50-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee then will reduce the list further – to 25 Semifinalists, later this fall. Another vote will create the list of 15 Finalists who will be discussed at the annual meeting ahead of Super Bowl LVIX that will produce the new class, which can consist of three, four or five Modern-Era Players under the Hall of Fame’s bylaws.
Injury report – DNP: RB Pierre Strong Jr. (hamstring), RT Dawand Jones (knee), TE David Njoku (ankle), DE Myles Garrett (foot), WR Jamari Thrash (illness); LIMITED: LS Charley Hughlett (foot), DE Zadarius Smith (back), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder), DE Alex Wright (triceps/elbow); FULL: OT Jack Conklin (knee); Martin Emerson Jr. (ankle, shoulder), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (gameday concussion evaluation), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (hand)
