BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has been ruled out for Saturday’s home finale with the Saints but Myles Garrett and running back Nick Chubb will play.
Clowney left last week’s 13-3 win over the Ravens due to a head injury and he was placed in concussion protocol. He did not practice this week.
Garrett and Chub returned to practice Thursday after missing the previous two days of work.
“Nick looked good. Myles is feeling better,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “They look normal.”
Garrett was sidelined due to an illness while Chubb suffered a foot injury during last week’s win.
“It will come back,” Garrett said when asked about being back to full strength. “Hopefully, the sun comes out and I can get some rays on me. I will be good.”
Wednesday night, both Garrett and Chubb were named Pro Bowlers along with left guard Joel Bitonio.
Defensive end Alex Wright will replace Clowney in the lineup.
“I have before so this is nothing new,” Wright said. “It is always just the next man up mentality. Just going out there, execute our gameplan and the rest will sort itself out.”
Welcome back – Center Ethan Pocic, who was designated to return from injured reserve earlier this week, will be activated for Saturday’s game.
“He looked like himself [in practice],” Stefanski said. “He will be fully activated.”
Pocic suffered a knee injury in the first quarter against the Bills on Nov. 20 before being placed on IR two days later. He revealed the extent of the MCL tear he suffered.
“It wasn’t completely off the bone, so it was all healable,” Pocic said. “Not a complete tear. Could be worse, could be better, but I can’t really complain.”
Pocic started the first 10 games of the season after Nick Harris was lost for the season during the preseason opener at Jacksonville.
Injury report – OUT: DE Jadeveon Clowney (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: S John Johnson III (thigh); EXPECTED TO PLAY: RB Nick Chubb (foot), DE Myles Garrett (illness), RT Jack Conklin (rest), WR David Bell (thumb), WR Amari Cooper (rest/hip), LB Jordan Kunaszyk (hamstring), TE David Njoku (knee), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder), RG Wyatt Teller (ankle), CB AJ Green (toe)
Up next – Walkthrough and meetings Friday; vs. Saints Saturday