BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – With the NFL trade deadline approaching and the Browns season circling the drain, rumor season is in full swing, but the Browns biggest star believes he isn’t going anywhere.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from Friday.
Going nowhere – Albert Breer of The MMQB wrote in a recent column that teams have been “fishing” around as to the potential availability of five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett. While Browns EVP/GM Andrew Berry is expected to unload a few players on expiring contracts, Garrett, who is signed through 2026, is not expected to be dealt. “I’ll be here,” Garrett said Friday.
OL shuffle – For the sixth straight week the Browns will field a different offensive line combination with the return of Wyatt Teller at right guard and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. ruled out with a knee injury. “Obviously as you guys can imagine, you want all five to play the entire season,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “That's not realistic. Doesn't happen very often. I don't know that it's happened since I've been here. Have we played all five? Probably not. So yeah, it's just part of it, but we don't look at that as anything other than it's an opportunity for somebody else to step up.” Dawand Jones, who has started the first five games of the season at right tackle, is the likely option to move over and start in place of Wills. “I feel good,” Jones said. “Had a good preparation this week going against Myles. He gave me a great looks.” Garrett did his best to prepare Wills for the Ravens rush. “I just wanted to give him the best look as possible,” Garrett said. “He's going to have a challenge with some of the guys over there and I want to give him a look of not only what I can do, but maybe things he might face when he gets out there and gets those looks. So just prepare him as much as I can.”
QB 2 – Dorian Thompson-Robinson will be the backup quarterback Sunday while new arrival Bailey Zappe, signed earlier this week, will be inactive with the emergency quarterback designation. “He’s picked it up very quickly,” Stefanski said of Zappe. Thompson-Robinson relieved Deshaun Watson last week but jammed his right middle finger and had to leave the game late in the fourth quarter. “I threw on Tuesday, Tuesday morning with the trainers to be able to get cleared for practice and stuff,” Thompson-Robinson said. “Felt really good, comfortable with it. Being able to hold onto the ball, push the ball with power down the field. Me and Jameis threw some good balls on, I think Wednesday after practice. I was able to rip it all the way down the field, put the ball where I wanted in a different spot. So I felt pretty confident going into the week.”
Surgery for 4 – Deshaun Watson underwent surgery to repair the ruptured Achilles suffered last Sunday on Friday. “The surgery was performed by Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, NC, and a full recovery is expected,” the team said. “We feel for him,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I shot him a text after the game, just checking up on him, make sure he's good. I know with what he's dealing with right now, it took him a couple days to respond, but we chopped it up. He's doing well, he's in good spirits. So definitely sending my prayers up for him today.”
Injury report – OUT: RB Jerome Ford (hamstring), S Ronnie Hickman (ankle), LB Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps), T Jedrick Wills (knee); QUESTIONABLE: RG Wyatt Teller (knee); EXPECTED TO PLAY: C Ethan Pocic (knee), CB Tony Brown (ankle), RT Jack Conklin (knee), DE Myles Garrett (Achilles), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (right finger), DT Quinton Jefferson (personal)
