BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s status for Sunday’s pivotal game with Baltimore is up in the air.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites from Friday.
Questionable 4 – Watson is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game due to a right shoulder injury. “I'm hopeful [Watson plays],” head coach Kevin Stefanski said after practice. Once again Watson, who told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com he was okay and expects to play Sunday, did not throw much during the open portion of practice to reporters Friday morning as he spent most of the time talking with head athletic trainer Joe Sheehan. Watson, who appeared to wear a sleeve on the shoulder under his jersey, was extremely limited all week. “I think with any injury, I think you're best served treating them day by day, and that's just what we're doing,” Stefanski said. Unlike Wednesday, Watson wasn’t seen taking “mental reps” behind rookie backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Friday but Stefanski said Watson was able to take some first team reps this week. Watson appeared to suffer the injury on a 10-yard run at the 6-minute mark of the third quarter when Titans safety Amani Hooker hit him in the right shoulder. “You always have to protect yourself when you can,” Stefanski said. “And I think we've talked about that before, and I know around the league you see players that make a ton of plays with their feet, and then you protect yourself. And Deshaun's done that over the course of his career. So he will always play his style, but you always have to be smart as well.” Running back Jerome Ford scored from three yards out on the next play. “We don’t live in uncertainty. Whether he plays or doesn’t play, that’s not going to change our mentality going into the game,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “He’s going to make the best decision for himself as well as for this team on what he can put forth, but knowing him, he’s a baller. He's fought through a lot of things. We think he'll play but if he doesn't, we'll just have to up our intensity just one more notch.”
DTR ready to roll – If Watson can’t go, which seems unlikely, rookie backup quarterback Dorian Thompson Robinson is ready to go. “I'm extremely confident, extremely ready for Sunday if my name is called, which I am every week and really every day, ever since I first got here,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I've been taking all the reps behind the scenes. So I've been trying to prepare Deshaun as much as possible and if I do get my opportunity, it'll for sure pay off.” Thompson-Robinson had an impressive preseason that saw him complete just under 64% of his passes for 440 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. “All of our backups have to be ready to play,” Stefanski said. “It's just the life of a backup. Quarterback backup, linebacker backup anything. You have to prepare yourself to play. And he's prepared just like everybody else. You got to be ready to play.” Thompson-Robinson took the bulk of first team reps, a first for him since being drafted in the fifth round this year. “It helped tremendously,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I've never gotten repos with the ones, so to be able to get a feel for those guys, their speed, their routes has definitely been huge for me this week. And being able to iron out some of those wrinkles for if I do get in on Sunday, before that gets there… Nothing's changing, nothing's new.”
Keep pushing – Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was not about to show that he was impressed with Garrett’s 3.5 sack performance last week saying Thursday “there’s more meat on the bone.” Garrett appreciates Schwartz pushing him to do more and be even better. “I love it,” Garrett said. “I've had coaches like that all my life. Whether it’s high school, college and up. They see something in you that sometimes you can't see in yourself, and I agree with him. I've always believed there's no reason to ever be satisfied with your performance, but even look at the film, there's always a little bit more that you can get out of it, and he's going to squeeze this lemon until they’re dry. So he's going to keep on fighting to get better.” The assignment this week is a tough one – Lamar Jackson, but Garrett is ready to dig in for a busy afternoon. “Playing them is fun,” Garrett said. “ There's a lot to look at, but at the end of the day, it's just a physical game. Who wants it more, it’s usually one-on-one. Unfortunately for the big guys in the middle, sometimes a little bit two-on-one. But on the edge you have a lot of opportunities to make plays if keep your eyes focused on what you need to and same with the corners and the guys behind us. So JOK is licking his chops and so are those linebackers.”
Amazing praise – Earlier this week cornerback Denzel Ward mentioned that he felt Greg Newsome was the best nickel corner in the NFL, a comment Newsome was appreciative of. “I mean, just to get that recognition from the best corner in the business is amazing,” Newsome told 92.3 The Fan. “That's all I kind of care about is just being here with my team, trying to perform the best I can and try to get us winning. So I really don't care too much about what the outside world thinks about me. I kind of just try to do my job and as long as my teammates know I'm doing my best and trying to compete out there, that's all I care about.” Newsome missed last week’s win over the Titans due to a hyperextended elbow but expects to return against the Ravens. “I mean, a lot of work, man. It hurt, so it definitely helps,” Newsome said. “When I got a band of brothers, I feel like I'm letting them down, not being out there, so I work as hard as I can to get back and try to minimize that as much as I can.” The injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. “The elbow's healing up great,” Newsome said. “It won't be a factor. If it was hurting too bad, I wouldn't do it, but it won't be a factor.”
Rings of Excellence – The Hall of Fame rings of excellence will be passed out to newly inducted Hall of Famer Joe Thomas as well as the family of late Browns Hall of Famer Mac Speedie Sunday. Speedie’s son-in-law Rod Walker will be accept the ring on behalf of Speedie’s daughter Rebecca Speedie Walker prior to Sunday’s game. Thomas will receive his ring at halftime.
Beat up Ravens – Baltimore has been dealing with a lengthy list of injuries this season. Sunday they will be without Receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) and Rashod Bateman (hamstring), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (foot) as well as linebackers Odafe Oweh (ankle) and Davis Ojabo (knee/ankle). Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) is listed as doubtful. Safeties Kyle Hamilton (back) and Marcus Williams (pectoral) and running back Justice Hill (foot) are questionable.
Injury report – QUESTIONABLE: QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder); EXPECTED TO PLAY: LG Joel Bitonio (rest, ankle) RB Kareem Hunt (ribs, groin), CB Greg Newsome (elbow), OT James Hudson (ankle), RB Jerome Ford (shoulder)
