BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns will be without two of their top defenders Sunday against the Patriots.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback Denzel Ward were ruled out Friday afternoon.
“As you know, you want all of your guys to make it to the game,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “This is the league. Guys are injured. It happens to every team. You lose a guy sometimes in pregame. Sometimes you lose them during practices. You just have to move on.”
Clowney returned last week from a sprained ankle that kept him out two weeks to play against the Chargers but indicated after the loss that he went beyond his “pitch count” in the game.
Stefanski denied that had anything to do with the setback suffered by Clowney this week, but Myles Garrett will be without his bookend for the third time in four weeks.
“Not having him as a presence, as a run stopper and a pass rusher is tough knowing that they'll be able to use their resources in other ways to double and trip us down the line and me,” Garrett said. “Just have to find ways to scheme us to get open.”
Last week Garrett seemed to implore Clowney to play. Not so much this week.
“He wants to be out here just as bad as anyone, and he wants to make plays, wants to be a dominant force on this team,” Garrett said. “So we want to see him healthy, however long that takes. So we’re going to wait and welcome him back with open arms.”
Without Clowney, Garrett will once again see extra attention to neutralize him.
“I don't think it's going to change anytime soon,” Garrett said. “I'm getting a lot of respect from different players and coaches and they're scheming towards me to try to stop me, so it's a huge sign of respect but I've got to show them that it's not going to work, it can't work every time because I have to go out there and make plays regardless.”
Ward is sidelined after being placed in the concussion protocol Sunday.
Greedy Williams is expected to be activated from injured reserve and make his season debut.
“As you know, all of your corners are going to play throughout the season,” Stefanski said. “Young guys are continuing to get better. Greedy makes it back for this game. We will see obviously what he can give us. Throughout the season, you are going to use all of those guys so it is really all hands on deck.”
Pull it together – Garrett – and the Browns for that matter – are hopeful the defense will be able to get it together the way they did last year and put the early season struggled behind them.
So what’s the fix?
“Just gap integrity, execution and want-to,” Garrett said. “People staying in their gaps, not trying to be superhuman or play the hero on every run down or every pass down, stay in your gap and do your job. At the end of the day, we have a lot of guys who can do their job very well, but they have to be focused on doing their job and not worried about the guy next to them is doing theirs.
Just everybody locked in on what they need to do and coming downhill with their hair on fire, believing that the guy in front of them can't stop them. It's a matter of want-to at that point, once we all get on the same page.”
Jones-ing to play – It has yet to be decided if linebacker Deion Jones, acquired Monday from the Falcons, will play Sunday.
“We will see about the game, but I know this, he is working very hard in the meeting room and working very hard on the field,” Stefanski said. “We will see how it goes over the next 48 hours.”
Jones was designated to return from injured reserve on Wednesday so he could practice with his new team. He’s also been spending a lot of time studying Joe Woods’ defensive scheme – or at least the terminology.
“He has played a lot of football in a similar scheme, too, down there in Atlanta,” Stefanski said. “There are a lot of similarities schematically and certain things we called that they called it. [Linebackers] Coach [Jason] Tarver knows all of the language from that previous system, as well, so he can translate for him. He is a vet. He is a pro. He is getting it.”
Own worst critic – There is no one more frustrated with the two missed field goals last week than kicker Cade York. This week special teams coordinator Mike Priefer has been encouraging and supportive as opposed to critical.
“As a kicker, I think we all know that the kicker is his own biggest critic,” York said. “So when you start having coaches being big critics too, it's probably not the best thing. So they've definitely been great showing that they're still confident in me and stuff like that. I know I can go out there and do what I need to do as good as anybody else can. I just gotta go out there and do it next week.”
York missed wide right from 45 with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. The kick would’ve extended the Browns lead to 24-17. His 54 yard try was also wide right that would’ve won the game with 11 seconds remaining.
“The miss I'm really upset about was the 45. That was just terrible,” York said. “Didn't attack it enough. The 54 I missed I went after it and hit it pretty well, just barely missed it. But no excuses. One thing I've always prided myself on is just not missing twice and I did that last week. It sucks, but gotta show people what I'm made of, come back and just keep doing what I need to do.”
Quote of the day – “Pissed off and ready for another round. Hate losing, this team hates losing.” Myles Garrett’s response when asked how he was feeling following last week’s game.
Injury report – OUT: DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, elbow), OT Joe Haeg (concussion), CB Denzel Ward (concussion); EXPECTED TO PLAY: RT Jack Conklin (not injury related-rest), DE Myles Garrett (shoulder, biceps, hand), LG Joel Bitonio (elbow), DT Taven Bryan (hamstring), WR Amari Cooper (not injury related-rest), RB Demetric Felton (wrist), S Ronnie Harrison (illness), DT Perrion Winfrey (ankle)
Up next – Walk through Saturday; host Patriots Sunday.