CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – It’s going to be a long December for the Browns, who now begin playing out the string.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from Monday’s post Steelers loss Zooms.
Ride with 5 – With the Browns season essentially over with the team eliminated from playoff contention, Kevin Stefanski won’t be making a quarterback change so the organization can look at Dorian Thompson-Robinson – yet. “For me and for us, we're just going to continue to do everything we can to play better,” Stefanski said. “Obviously I think we can play better on offense. Certainly as a team we can play better, but really the focus is making sure that we put our guys in position to find a way to win.” In six starts, Winston has gone 2-4 where he is completing just under 61% of his passes for 1,975 yards with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. “We don't want to give the ball away in any form or fashion,” Stefanski said. “We don't want to fumble it away. We don't want to throw interceptions, but we also coach each play because each play is a little bit different than the last. So like I've said to you guys before, not all interceptions are created equal and all we can do with any play has learned from them and that's what Jameis will continue to do.”
Ed Block Courage Award winner – Running back Nick Chubb was selected by his teammates as the Browns 2024 Ed Block Courage Award recipient. The Ed Block Courage Award is given annually to a member of each of the 32 NFL teams who best exemplifies the qualities of Ed Block – the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts – based on courage, compassion, commitment and community. “I want to thank Joe Sheehan and Pat Rock from our training staff, strength and conditioning coach Dale Jones, Dr. Voos at University Hospitals and my teammates for doing a great job being there for me and pushing me throughout the process of my recovery,” Chubb said. “It was an uphill battle every day because when you get hurt – it’s one thing – but when you get hurt again, you already know what you must go through with the entire process of surgery and rehab. And I am extremely grateful to get to this point and be back on the field with my teammates doing what I’ve loved to do since I was a kid.” Chubb was previously named the Browns Ed Block Award winner in 2020.
Do your job – Even though the Browns are out of playoff contention, players still have jobs to play for. “Every game’s a part of your resume,” right guard Wyatt Teller said. “It doesn't matter if you're in the playoffs or not, or in playoff contention. Every single player you're out there, you have to put good film out because that's hopefully you're working for the next contract. I'm working for an extension so I can stay here in Cleveland till for the next 50 years. So you're always fighting for something, you're always working for something. You also have a family and a brotherhood within the team that you're not going to let down. It doesn't matter if you're in playoff contention or not, you're going to do the best you can to play at a high level and protect your brothers.”
Conklin’s shutout – Lost in another ugly performance by the Browns is the job right tackle Jack Conklin did again against Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, not allowing Watt a sack in either game this season. “Was two good performances versus a great rusher,” Stefanski said. “There's times when you help your tackles versus that team. There's times that you don't and I thought Jack really did well. Even when he was singled up. Where he's come to this point from where he was with his injury, I think is pretty impressive.”
Standing by Hopkins – Kicker Dustin Hopkins missed two more field goals Sunday – 38 and 43 yards – and he is 16 for 25 on the season but Stefanski isn’t inclined to make a change. “We will work through this with Dustin,” Stefanski said. “This is something that I know he can get through. We'll get through it together. He's a veteran. He's been through a lot in his career already and this is something that we'll continue to work through.”
Injury report – Cornerbacks Mike Ford Jr. has a concussion and Greg Newsome II “will miss some time” after re-injuring his surgically repaired hamstring according to Stefanski. Receiver Cedric Tillman remains in the concussion protocol.