CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Depending how the week goes, the Browns may be without part of their vaunted 1-2 punch out of the backfield this weekend in Dallas.
Running back Kareem Hunt was sidelined for Wednesday’s practice due to a groin injury.
It is unclear when Hunt got hurt.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Hunt along with right guard Joel Bitonio, who also did not practice due to a back injury, are “day-to-day.”
The Browns are the only team in the NFL with two running backs over 200 yards rushing for the season. Hunt has 204 and a score on 39 carries while Nick Chubb leads the team with 292 yards and four touchdowns on 51 touches.
Hunt has also caught a pair of touchdowns and has 42 yards receiving on eight catches through three weeks.
Hilliard elevated – Hunt’s injury was foreshadowed Wednesday morning running back Dontrell Hilliard was signed from the practice squad to the active roster.
Hilliard’s elevation also may foreshadow the team not being ready to activate rookie receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones on game day to help replace receiver/returner JoJo Natson, who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after suffering a torn ACL during Sunday’s 34-20 win over the Washington Football team.
Stefanski was asked if Hilliard’s activation was in response to Hunt’s or Natson’s injury.
“It is kind of looking at the roster in total,” Stefanski said. “Dontrell has done a very nice job for us in all the looks that he has been doing so. He is a versatile football player so I would say it is more a reflection of Dontrell than anything else.”
Stefanski did not rule out Peoples-Jones making his debut in Dallas.
“I think we have to see how the week goes,” Stefanski said.
“He has done a nice job. I think he has grown as a football player. I think he works extremely hard at understanding what he has to do on each given play. He does a great job in the scout team looks up to this point.
Just keep bringing him along.”
Man of few words – Chubb isn’t getting amped up any more than normal for this week’s game because Ezekiel Elliott will be toting the pigskin for the Cowboys.
“I go out there and play my game,” Chubb said.
Chubb, who finished second in the league in rushing yardage a year ago, hasn’t gotten nearly the same national attention Elliott receives and that’s quite fine with him.
Being considered the best back in the league is not exactly high on Chubb’s priority list.
“No, not at all,” Chubb said.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield was asked Wednesday morning if he thought Chubb would get up for the game against Elliott.
“Probably not to be honest with you,” Mayfield said. “Zeke is a great back, but Nick just does his job. It does not matter who he is playing against, if it is on air or if it is against 30 people on the field, he is going to do his job every time and he is going to be extremely focused. That is why we love having him on our team.”
Williams and Vernon practice – Cornerback Greedy Williams continues to be limited with a shoulder injury suffered Aug. 24 during training camp while defensive end Olivier Vernon practiced for the first time since suffering an abdominal injury prior to the season opener.
Williams returned to practice last week but did not play Sunday and it’s unclear if he’ll make his 2020 debut this week.
“We are not sure yet,” Stefanski said. “Just kind of see how the how he progresses each day. Kind of take it one day at a time and then see where we are by the end of the week.”
Injury report – DNP: LG Joel Bitonio (back), DE Adrian Clayborn (hip), LB Tae Davis (elbow), RB Kareem Hunt (groin), CB Denzel Ward (groin); LIMITED: RT Jack Conklin (elbow), LB Jacob Phillips (knee), C JC Tretter (knee), DE Olivier Vernon (abdomen), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder); FULL: WR Jarvis Landry (hip), TE Stephen Carlson (shoulder) LB Sione Takitaki (shoulder)
