BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Four players are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Seattle including running back Jerome Ford and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites from Friday.
Ford healing faster – Jerome Ford went from walking boot, to potentially needing to miss 1 or 2 weeks to now questionable for Sunday after returning to practice Friday morning in the span of mere days. “Felt pretty good today,” Ford said following practice. Ford, who ripped off a 69-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the 39-38 win over the Colts, left Lucas Oil Stadium in a walking boot. “I'm always optimistic,” Ford said. “So I've been feeling like I can get back as soon as, I'm like, maybe I might be able to play this one. That kind of thing.” Ford suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain in the win and was forced from the game, but he could be back on the field in Seattle. “Anything I can do to help the team, no matter what it is,” Ford said. “Whether I'm able to play and I'm out there on the field or I'm out there with moral support, giving out water and making sure everybody got what they need.”
Wills returns – Wills was also back on the practice field after resting a foot and ankle injury suffered Wednesday. “I think a bunch of guys that get some injuries throughout the course of practice and then you got to fight through it, but good to have him back out there,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. Should Wills not be able to play Sunday, James Hudson II would replace him in the lineup. “James took every rep when Jed went down in practice. Also took every scout team rep,” Stefanski said. “He's a player that's dependable. He's done a nice job when called upon.”
2 others questionable – Receiver Marquise Goodwin and linebacker Sione Takitaki are also questionable Sunday. Goodwin has been dealing with a back injury and Takitaki a hamstring. Both players practiced Friday, a positive sign about their availability against the Seahawks.
Catching up – P.J. Walker has gone from joining the practice squad before the season to having to start his second game for the Browns. “[He’s] getting comfortable in the scheme with his teammates, all those things,” Stefanski said. “I mean, it's not easy for any player, particularly a quarterback, to play catch up and understand different nuances to your scheme, certainly nuances to your teammates. So he's worked real hard at that.” Walker was signed to the 53-man roster this week after the Browns had to use up his three elevations in consecutive weeks. Walker is no stranger to bouncing around. He did it with the Colts, Panthers and even the XFL. “The journey that I've had. I look back to 2019 when I wasn't in the league at all, just sitting there watching from home,” Walker said. “Just the opportunity that presented itself, you've got to take full advantage of it. There's a lot of people that wish to be in my shoes, so for me it's just take advantage of every opportunity I get.” He started five games last season for Carolina and Deshaun Watson’s rotator cuff injury has vaulted him into emergency duty here in Cleveland where he has helped win two games. “When you go out there, you can't think about everything,” Walker said. “Just going out there and playing in the moment, being in the moment, I try not to let everything confuse me or let the situation bring me to frantic, or anything like that. So for me it's just stay calm, whether it's the two-minute drive or the first play of the game, try to approach it the same.”
Brace for impact – The Browns aren’t the only team that can send the house. The Seahawks’ defense does it regularly with 11 players having registered a sack for them to date and they have 23 sacks as a team. “I think our O-line does a great job,” Walker said. “For us it's just being able to do different things offensively, keep them off balance, just try to move the ball up and down the field as best as possible. Just try to put the ball in my receiver's hands. Try to beat a lot of those pressures that they do bring. So for me it's just trying to be efficient and just play.” Not only does Walker have to worry about Seattle’s rush, but the noise in what he said was the loudest stadium he’s been in. “We got to over communicate,” Walker said. “We got to be loud, we got to talk, we got to make sure we all on the same page and we all have to do it, we all have to over communicate, not just for me, receivers got to talk to the receivers, O-line got to speak. So for us, we all got to over communicate and just be on the same page.”
Minority stake – Browns defensive end Myles Garrett reached an agreement earlier this week to purchase a minority stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers. Garrett spoke Friday about getting to buy a piece of the club he fell in love with during the 2016 NBA championship season. Watch Garrett’s comments in the video above.
Change of focus – When Garrett came into the NFL, he mentioned securing at least one Defensive Player of the Year award was on his ‘to do’ list. This year, his priorities have changed as he finds himself amid the conversation for the honor at the end of October. “I don't get all of that. Award’s an award,” Garrett said. “At the end of the day, we want the big one – the Lombardi, so we got to continue to play together as a team, and complimentary so we can win that one. The Defensive player of the Year, that comes down to statistics and sometimes narrative. So you got to play for the love of the game and play for your teammates. All the rest of that will take care of himself.” Garrett is coming off an incredible performance defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz called “one for the ages” that saw him force a pair of fumbles on strip sacks and block a field goal by leaping over the kick protect line of the Colts. He is third in the league with 7.5 sacks but his impact in games feels greater and Schwartz has a lot to do with that. “He knows I play very instinctually, and he loves it,” Garrett said. “He's happy with how I attack the game, how I attack the line of scrimmage, how I play blocks. He's like, we'll play off of you in most instances. We got to keep the integrity of the defense, but if you're going to go there and you're going to get in the backfield, make the play, we'll move around you, we'll adjust. But as long as you hold the edge, you don't leave any of the other D-linemen out to dry, you don't open up the gaps, we're going to ride with you. And I'm a hundred percent bought in on everything that he's called for me and us as a D-line and defensive team.” As for the big picture, Garrett has already imagined what would happen if he and the Browns can achieve his primary objective. “I think this town would be rocking and shut down for about four or five days,” Garrett said.
Deadline looming – It’s fair to say that Sunday’s game in Seattle will likely shape executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry’s approach to the trade deadline which comes Tuesday at 4 p.m. eastern. Berry has been working the phones this week to check on player availability and potential compensation that may be required. Friday morning, Berry watched the running back drills intently. The outlook for Deshaun Watson might also force Berry to explore trading for an experienced veteran to fill the void until Watson returns.
Injury report – Out: QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder); Questionable: LT Jedrick Wills (foot/ankle), RB Jerome Ford (ankle), WR Marquise Goodwin (back), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring); Expected to play: DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (ribs), RB Kareem Hunt (thigh), TE David Njoku (knee), LB Anthony Walker (shoulder), TE Harrison Bryant (hip), DE Alex Wright (concussion), LB Tony Fields (hip) WR Amari Cooper (rest/ankle)
