BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Taking down the best team in football Sunday afternoon just got more difficult.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites as the shorthanded Browns try to figure out a way to pull off an improbable upset in Week 6.
Watson out – As expected, the Browns ruled quarterback Deshaun Watson out for the 49ers Friday morning but it might not be the last game he sits out. “He's making progress,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said following Friday's practice. “He's working very hard, but just wasn't ready to get to the level where he could practice and be effective just yet. But he's making progress.” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Watson could miss more games beyond this week due to the injury, which is close to a strain. Watson hasn’t seen a practice field since September 29 when he was very limited. “Well, practicing limited was not a lot of throws,” Stefanski said. “It was more from a handoff variety. So, as you guys know, not to rehash the week, but went through the week, felt like we could get to Sunday. But I think what the reminder is to all of us is you have to treat the injury. Not everything's the same. So based on how he's feeling, based on what he's able to do, is really that's guiding his rehab and guiding our decisions.” The last time Watson had a full practice was the 22nd after suffering a right rotator cuff contusion in a 27-3 victory over the Titans on September 24. While Watson has made progress, the shoulder has not responded as well as hoped and they are not rushing their $230 million quarterback to return before he is healed and ready. “I know what he's made of,” Stefanski said. “I know how badly he wants to be out there. I know how badly he wants to compete. I've seen him play through injuries. I mean, he's a very tough individual, so he's pushing through it. He's going to be out there as soon as he's ready.” Stefanski shook his head no when asked if Watson could require surgery.
Walker in – Veteran P.J. Walker will be elevated for the second time from the practice squad so he can start for Watson Sunday afternoon. “P.J.'s a pro,” Stefanski said. “He's seen a lot of football, been in different systems, had a good week of practice, understands that he just has to do his job.” Walker leapfrogs Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the assignment after the rookie struggled mightily in a 28-3 loss to the Ravens on October 1. “Whether one, two or three for me, it’s just always go out there and prepare like I'm going to play on Sunday because you just never know what may happen,” Walker said. “Somebody could wake up sick on Saturday morning or Sunday morning and they can't go. So, for me it's just always be ready.” Walker has started seven of the 15 games he has appeared in over three years with Carolina where he has completed 57.5% of his passes for 1,461 yards with five touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He started five games in 2022 for the Panthers. “Last year was huge,” Walker said. “Just me getting the opportunity to go out there and play five games and get those games under my belt, it felt good just to see guys rally around me and just to feel the energy and excitement of the guys around me. I don't go out there and play for myself. I go out there and play for every one of these guys in this room and in this building. That's all that matters at the end of the day. Taking care of business on Sunday and going out there and playing as a team.”
Streak ends – All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio’s regular season games started and consecutive snaps streaks are over. Bitonio had started 102 consecutive games and not missed a snap for 6,846 consecutive plays during the regular season but a knee injury has kept him off the practice field all week and he has been ruled out for Sunday. “We always trust our backups to get in there and do their job,” Stefanski said. “Joel's not available this week, so expect Michael Dunn to do his job.” Dunn will start for Bitonio against San Francisco’s potent pass rushers. “[I] never thought the day would come where Joel was not only going to be missing a regular season game, but a snap,” Dunn said. “I'm as shocked as everybody else. You hate to hear that he's going to have to miss this game, but I know he is working his ass off to get back and I'm excited for him to get back when he does.” The last game Bitonio missed was the Browns playoff win at Pittsburgh because he was on the COVID list. Ironically, Dunn started in his place that night.
Njoku thankful – Tight end David Njoku’s face and hands are healing after he suffered serious burns during an accident at home on September 29. “When it happened, my eyes were open, so I saw everything and I really should have been blinded,” Njoku said. “So luckily I'm not. So, I give all the glory to God.” Njoku posted pictures of the burns to his face on his Instagram account on Wednesday. “I've been getting a lot of messages from other burn victims and nurses that have burn victims, and they were telling me how everybody feels embarrassed to show whatever, so I wanted just to come out forth and show myself so everyone feels a little bit better about themselves,” Njoku said. “End of the day things heal.” Njoku played two days after the accident and led the Browns with six catches in the loss to Baltimore and he plans to play this week against the 49ers even thought he is officially listed as questionable after missing two days of practice. “The way I see it, all the pain and sufferings from training in the offseason is far worse than any of this,” Njoku said. “We really push ourselves a lot to strive to be great. So a little burn isn't going to stop me.”
Keeping the faith – There’s no question without Watson and Bitonio, the task of taking down the undefeated 49ers becomes more difficult, but the confidence within the locker room remains high. “They didn't die,” receiver Elijah Moore said. “So I think we’re loving on them, we see them, we're in the building with them and it's next man up. And they're cheering us on too. So I don't look at it as a negative. I think we're going to get them back at the perfect time.” The line Sunday with the Browns being underdogs started at 3.5 and has moved to 10 for some sportsbooks. “They say to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” Garrett said. “So it don't matter what your lines are looking like, what the depth chart looking like. You can't account for that. Not like they can't account for that. You just have to go out there with who you’ve got and play ball. Any given Sunday, anything can happen, so we're going to go out there, heads held high, full of confidence, ready to rock.”
White out – The Browns will wear all white Sunday – white alternate helmet with throwback 1946 white jersey and pants – and they are asking fans to wear all white to the game.
Injury report – OUT: QB Deshaun Watson (right shoulder), LG Joel Bitonio (knee), WR Cedric Tillman (hip); QUESTIONABLE: TE David Njoku (face, hand), C Ethan Pocic (knee, chest, foot); EXPECTED TO PLAY: DE Myles Garrett (foot), RB Jerome Ford (knee)