CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns are expecting 2 key defensive players to return Sunday, but they may not have cornerback Denzel Ward available.
Ward did not practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Washington Football Team.
Ward suffered a groin injury during practice on Thursday.
“We listed him as questionable, and that's exactly what he is,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We have a few hours here to see how he does.”
The Browns are hopeful linebacker Mack Wilson as well as cornerback Kevin Johnson will be available after the two missed the first two weeks of the season due to injury.
Wilson is officially listed as questionable while Johnson has been elevated to ‘expected to play’ and would likely start in place of Ward.
Cornerback Greedy Williams, who suffered a shoulder injury on August 24, has been ruled out for a third straight week meaning Terrance Mitchell will continue to start in his place.
Expanding role – Safety Ronnie Harrison could see more snaps Sunday against Washington and is expected to get more playing time in the weeks to come.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods explained why we haven’t seen much of him through the first two games.
“He brings that type of presence to our defense, but you do not want to put him on the field until you feel like he knows enough to have success because if he goes out there and he is not comfortable and does not execute, now you are kind of working backwards,” Woods said. “He will be in the picture more this week and the upcoming weeks, but we definitely want to put him in there based on what we know he can handle.”
Harrison, acquired in August from Jacksonville for a 2021 fifth-round pick, played just two snaps in Week 1 at Baltimore and six last Thursday against Cincinnati.
Captain for a day – Stefanski revealed receiver KhaDarel Hodge will be this week’s captain Sunday afternoon.
“We look at the roster, we look at the game, we’re just trying to highlight the players,” Stefanski said of choosing his weekly captains. “We have a ton of deserving guys and I think what it speaks to is only one guy walks out there before the game and he embodies what we believe in.”
ID check – Although receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry voiced their support for and willingness to do whatever is required within the Browns’ run-heavy offense, Stefanski pushed back on the notion they’re a run-centric team Friday.
“Obviously it’s about the team but I will tell you, we’re only two games into this thing so to say we are or we know exactly what we’re going to look like week in and week out, I don’t think that’s fair,” Stefanski said. “I think this thing is growing, really on all sides of the ball – offensively, defensively and special teams.
“We’re going to evolve as need be throughout the season.”
Clayborn back – Defensive end Adrian Clayborn practiced Friday after being idle Wednesday and Thursday due to a hip injury.
Clayborn started in place of Olivier Vernon against the Bengals and registered a sack before getting hurt.
Injury report – OUT: DE Olivier Vernon (abdomen), LB Jacob Phillips (knee), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder); QUESTIONABLE: CB Denzel Ward (groin), LB Mack Wilson (knee); EXPECTED TO PLAY: WR Jarvis Landry (hip), DE Adrian Clayborn (hip), C JC Tretter (knee), RT Jack Conklin (ankle/finger), CB Kevin Johnson (liver), TE Stephen Carlson (shoulder), LB Sione Takitaki (shoulder)