BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – While questions remain as to who will start at quarterback Thursday night against the Broncos remain, the Browns will be without their top two running backs.
Nick Chubb was ruled out for the game by head coach Kevin Stefanski Tuesday.
This is the second game Chubb has been held out of due to a calf injury suffered in the fourth quarter in a 47-42 loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles.
Keeping Chubb off injured reserve gives him a chance to potentially be available October 31 against the Steelers.
“We will deal with next week next week,” Stefanski said.
With Chubb and Hunt out, D’Ernest Johnson will get to make his first NFL start in their place.
“You guys saw D’Ernest in there last season at times, and he was very dependable and he was very accountable,” Stefanski said. “Broke some long runs for us. Can really catch the ball. Similar to the earlier question, I have a ton of faith in D’Ernest, just like all of these guys who may be called upon.”
Johnson has carried three times for 11 yards this season and he ran 33 times for 166 yards in 2020. He’s also caught 10 passes for 92 yards with most of that coming his rookie season in 2019.
“The mentality stays the same,” Johnson said. “Coach Stump [Mitchell] tells us, prepare as if everybody’s going in to start the game. The mentality stays the same, the standards are still high in the room. We’ve just got to go out there and execute.”
The Browns signed John Kelly from the practice squad to the active roster and he will likely back up Johnson while rookie Demetric Felton will line up primarily at receiver, but he could also get some reps out of the backfield.
“John is a running back,” Stefanski said. “Demetric might be back there. He might be a wide receiver. I think it is very, very fluid.”
Chance for Conklin and Wills – Although both left tackle Jedrick Wills and right tackle Jack Conklin did not practice Tuesday, Stefanski is not ruling them out – yet.
“Jack and Jed, they did some work already,” Stefanski said prior to practice. “I am going to hold them out of the practice today.”
Blake Hance handled left tackle and James Hudson III last week in their absence.
OBJ DNP – Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was among the six player to be idle for practice Tuesday.
Beckham suffered a shoulder injury against the Cardinals and was not on the field during the portion of the session open to reporters.
Prior to practice Stefanski said Beckham still has a chance to play Thursday night.
Landry update – Receiver Jarvis Landry practiced Tuesday as he continues to work his way back from a sprained MCL suffered in Week 2 against the Texans.
Landry was designated for return from injured reserve on Friday but Stefanski is unsure if they’ll be able to activate him for Thursday night.
“He is going to move around today, and again, we will see,” Stefanski said.
“I think we will get a better understanding today.”
Myles retires sleeveless look – The las time Myles Garrett went sleeveless the NFL hit him with a drug test. He went sleeveless again Sunday and got hit with another test.
Garrett tweeted about it Tuesday and announced he was going to retire the sleeveless look going forward.
On IR – The Browns made the moves to injured reserve for running back Kareem Hunt and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah official Tuesday.
Both players suffered injuries against the Cardinals Sunday. Hunt is sidelined with a calf injury and Owusu-Koramoah a high ankle sprain.
Injury report – DNP: RB Nick Chubb (calf), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder), RT Jack Conklin (knee), CB A.J. Green (shoulder, groin), C J.C. Tretter (knee), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (ankle); LIMITED: QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder), DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, chest, knee), DE Malik Jackson (knee), TE David Njoku (knee), LB Mack Wilson (calf), LB Malcolm Smith (abdomen), DT Jordan Elliott; FULL: DE Myles Garrett (knee, ankle), Malik McDowell (elbow, foot), DE Takkarist McKinley (ankle), CB Greg Newsome II (calf), CB Denzel Ward (neck), CB Greedy Williams (knee)
Up next – Walkthrough Wednesday, vs. Broncos Thursday night.