BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II underwent an MRI on a calf injury suffered in Sunday’s 26-6 win over the Bears but head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t have the results when he spoke to reporters Monday afternoon.
“I'm worried about anybody who gets an MRI, but we'll see,” Stefanski said.
Stefanski plans to update the rookie’s status on Wednesday.
Newsome suffered the injury in the third quarter and was replaced by Greedy Williams.
“Greedy's a starting corner in this league, either way,” cornerback Troy Hill said. “We've got depth at this position. Y’all saw when he came in there, he stepped up and did his thing. There ain’t no worry if Greedy’s got to come in. Greedy is a starting corner in this league. He's been a starting corner in this league. Ain’t nothing new. He's just going to come out there and do his thing and fill in great.”
Williams missed the 2020 season after suffering a shoulder injury that included nerve damage during training camp. A groin injury in the second preseason game against the Giants all but gave the second starting corner job to Newsome.
Stefanski complimented Williams’ work on special teams, where he has seen the majority of his snaps to date this season, against the Bears.
“Greedy was outstanding on special teams yesterday,” Stefanski said.
JOK A-OK – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was sensational in his first NFL start.
Owusu Koramoah played 23 snaps and it felt like he was noticed on every one. He finished with four tackles – including one for loss, a half sack, two passes defensed and a QB hit.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 93.9 grade.
“He played fast,” Stefanski said. “I really thought his ball disruption was really good. We did not take the ball away yesterday, but we had a bunch of passes defended – JOK in particular on some balls to the running backs that they were trying to pull, and he got his arm on the ball. I thought he did a nice job there.”
Looking good – Odell Beckham Jr. might have been emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted after playing in his first game since undergoing ACL surgery last November, but he was a major contributor in the win over Chicago.
“He was productive in those 52 snaps,” Stefanski said. “Any first time back, it is always going to be working through it, getting your wind and that type of thing, but I thought he did a nice job.”
Beckham caught five passes for 77 yards.
Confidence boost – Kicker Chase McLaughlin remains perfect this season – 9-9 on PATs and 5-5 on field goals.
Sunday, he hit from 57 and 52 yards against the Bears.
“I have had a ton of confidence in him,” Stefanski said. “That is because I see him do it at practice. He goes out there pregame and had a really good warmup so I felt good about the length of that 57-yarder. He has been very consistent. That is what we are going to need from him moving forward.”
If McLaughlin continues to kick well, he could become a weapon for Stefanski and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer.
“One of the strengths is his leg strength,” Stefanski said. “When you go and play in a dome like we are this week, I think you get through pregame and you see where the number is. Prief and I talk, and I know the yard line we have to get to to feel good about it, and I know the yard line we have to get to where we are going to have to make a decision. Prief was confident in that moment. The kid is confident. We will see how it goes by the conditions, if that makes sense.”
Toughing it out – Jedrick Wills Jr. continues to play on a sore ankle. Sunday, he aggravated the injury when running back Nick Chubb apparently stepped on or landed on it according to Stefanski.
Wills’ toughness hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“A shoulder or an elbow, you can brace that thing up and it is nothing, but when the game is running, especially with these fast defensive fronts that we play in the NFL, it is difficult,” right guard Wyatt Teller said.
“It is hard. He is showing resilience. He is showing toughness. A lot of us, it is great to see that out of him. A team-first guy. I love Jed. Again, we all have stuff to learn and we all have stuff to toughen out and get better at, but he is a great guy and he is playing through it.”
Quote of the day – “I like an angry Kareem Hunt so I will make a mental note of that.” – Stefanski when asked if Hunt might have been angry about not being the third down back early in the game.
Up next – Players off Tuesday, practice Wednesday.