BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns practiced Tuesday without two of their All-Pros.
Defensive end Myles Garrett and left Guard Joel Bitonio, who are both dealing with injuries, did not practice. Bitonio worked on the side while Garrett was not on the field during the portion of practice open to reporters.
Garrett is dealing with a neck injury and Bitonio a biceps injury according to the team and their status Thursday night is up in the air.
“We will see,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “These Thursday night games, sometimes it is hard for guys to make it. We will take every hour as they come.”
Bitonio did not miss a snap in Sunday’s 31-30 loss to the Jets while Garrett played 57 of 70 snaps, including just missing Jets quarterback Joe Flacco for a second sack on the second to last Jets offensive play of the game.
Jadeveon Clowney has already been ruled out after he suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s loss to the Jets. The loss of Clowney puts even more pressure – and attention – on Garrett.
“We talked a lot about that player opposite of Myles often gets a little bit less attention,” Stefanski said. “With Jadeveon, he is another guy who teams pay attention to. He is very disruptive. He does a great job in the run game. Very long. Gets great effort sacks and effort pressures. We need everybody whenever somebody is out, you just have to step up. Whoever is the next man up, we just need the best version of that person. I am not going to ask them to play like JD for instance.”
Right tackle Jack Conklin, inactive for the first two games as he works his way back from a torn patellar tendon, was on the field but his playing status is also to be determined.
Bad Dawg – Perrion Winfrey, the draft night barker on Zoom, wouldn’t go into details as to why he was disciplined by Stefanski last week.
“If coach didn’t share with y’all, I think it’s best that it stays in house,” Winfrey said.
Winfrey did not practice last Friday, and he did not play against the Jets. Although Winfrey didn’t play, he was on the sideline.
“Every rookie goes through something different and this is something I had to go through alone,” Winfrey said. “My journey and the other rookies are on their journey. So them being or not being out at practice is something that has to do with their journey. My journey I was not allowed to play and it is what it is.
“Whether I feel I should have played or not doesn’t really matter because that game’s over and now we’re focused on Pittsburgh.”
Garrett said Friday that the fourth-round pick needed to learn to be a professional after they had apparently spoken with Winfrey about whatever behavior got him in trouble.
“They were just as typical veterans trying to help me along into becoming a pro,” Winfrey said. “But I wouldn’t say there was one guy in particular that was on my ass or talking negatively about me. They were just trying to help me become a grown man.”
Opening lines of communication – The communication breakdowns in the secondary have nearly cost the Browns two games and Sunday’s stunning collapse in the final two minutes has led to more questions than answers.
While no one on that side of the ball has been willing to say who has been responsible for the breakdowns, Greg Newsome II revealed on Kevin Stefanski’s coaches show Tuesday night, which aired on 92.3 The Fan, a step they took this week.
“Before the full defensive meeting, we had a players meeting and just talked about things, and I think the best part about it all honestly is people are mad about stuff like that,” Newsome said. “There are some teams who are used to that. We’re not used to that, and we see all the talent we have in the room, so things like that, it should hurt us and we should be mad about it.”
In all five breakdowns the first two weeks of the season have cost the Browns five touchdowns.
Tough love – Garrett is in the minority among players when it comes to being upset by fans booing as they left the field Sunday.
Add linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who took the blame for a blown coverage that led to the Jets tying the game at 14 before halftime, who understood fans’ frustration after they blew a 30-17 lead in the final two minutes and lost 31-30.
“For me, I’m a tough love type of guy,” Owusu-Koramoah said. “I would say it was a righteous move. In a relationship, you’d probably want your girl to tell you you’re not doing right. Is it what it is. We love the fans, and the fans still love us.”
Two to IR – Defensive end Chase Winovich and tight end Jesse James were placed on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon. James has a biceps injury and Winovich a hamstring injury.
Both players will miss a minimum of four games and rookie Alex Wright will likely be called upon to step in for Winovich.
“Alex in particular really has responded. He has made plays in these games,” Stefanski said. “He has gotten his hands on balls. He is very active. A young player, he is going to make his mistakes like you would expect but really think highly of the young man.”
Practice squad moves – The Browns signed offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to the practice squad and released offensive tackle Alex Taylor from the practice squad.
Injury report – DNP: LG Joel Bitonio (biceps), DE Myles Garrett (neck), DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle-OUT); LIMITED: TE Harrison Bryant (thumb/thigh), RT Jack Conklin (knee), OT Chris Hubbard (illness); FULL: DE Isaiah Thomas (hand)
Up next – Walkthrough and meetings Wednesday; host Steelers Thursday night.
