CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – A day after a dominating win over the Cincinnati Bengals to kick off the season, the Browns worst fears were realized.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites from the first victory Monday of 2023.
Season ended – An MRI confirmed that right tackle Jack Conklin suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Sunday’s 24-3 win over Cincinnati. On Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Conklin will require season-ending surgery. “Very, very disappointed for Jack,” Stefanski said. “He’s a huge part of this team, and when he gets this surgery and when he’s ready, he's going to be back in this building helping us because he’s just, again, a big part of that offensive line room.” Late last December Conklin signed a four-year, $60 million extension that included $30 million guaranteed to be paid in 2023 and 2024. Stefanski tried to explain losing a player like Conklin is as significant off the field as it is on it. “It's hard to describe if you’re not in the building every single day, the impact that guys like Jack have on your team,” Stefanski said. “And it can be very subtle. It can be in meeting rooms. It can be in the weight room. It can be out on the practice field. So we’ll miss him while he’s getting healthy, but then we’re going to need his butt back here to help.” Conklin was carted off after suffering the injury with 12:13 remaining in the first half. Rookie Dawand Jones replaced Conklin Sunday and will start next week at Pittsburgh opposite of two-time defensive player of the year T.J. Watt. “I’d say he just gets better every day,” center Ethan Pocic said of the fourth-round pick. “He’s always asking questions in the meetings, and I’d say every day he just tries to get better and you can really see. And like I said, he did a great job [Sunday] and just happy for how good he did.”
Big hitters – The Browns defensive front hit Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow at least 10 times on Sunday with Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith registering four QB hits apiece. “It was a good performance by the defense, obviously good performance up front, but it’s a bunch of different guys,” Stefanski said. “It was Myles [Garrett]. It was Za’Darius [Smith], Dalvin [Tomlinson] I thought was really strong. I mentioned Ogbo earlier. So when were at our best, we’re rolling those guys and keeping everybody fresh so everybody gets an opportunity to rush the passer, to stop the run. But it was a really impressive outing for that entire group.” The pressure up front made life much easier in the secondary defending the Bengals top three receivers - Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, who combined for seven catches for 49 yards. “Man, I want to tip my hat to those guys, to our D line,” cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. said. “They played with tremendous effort and it was hard. We know the ball [is] coming out fast and we don’t have to cover too long, and they was getting the ball out pretty quick and we just turned around trying to make plays on the ball.” Burrow was held to just 14 of 31 for 82 yards. His longest completion went for 12 yards.
Heavy ball – With rain pouring down all afternoon, quarterback Deshaun Watson wasn’t able to hit on multiple deep balls in the first half before the Browns changed up their game plan for the second half. The timing on a couple of routes also appeared off with the ball arriving late. “I think the ball was heavy and wet,” Stefanski said. “It was a constant mist. It was strange. Like I mentioned to you guys [Sunday] I did not know it was going to rain. And then lo and behold, it’s coming down in some weird sheets without raindrops. I don’t know how to describe it, but it was to our advantage. We found a way to move the ball, put some points on the board. Our defense played really well, but it definitely had an impact on the passing game.” Watson finished the afternoon 16 of 29 for 154 yards with a touchdown, interception off a tipped ball and a rating of 67.3.
All talk – Chase’s “Cleveland is Cleveland” comment and wanting to call the Browns Elves leading up to the opener were remembered Sunday afternoon. “Every game we coming out and we on a mission,” Emerson said. “We got goals and things that we want to reach as a group. So honestly, it don’t matter if he didn’t say anything. We was going to come out with the same energy and the same guys. But how do I want to say this? He did disrespect us, and whatever you say, you got to stand on it, and I feel like they didn't back that up.” After the game Burrow tried mending fences by referring to the Browns secondary as one of the best in the NFL, including Emmerson. “I appreciate it,” Emerson said. “That’s always just respect. I appreciate him acknowledging us but it don’t really mean too much, I guess, because we feel that way anyway and our team feel that way and we just got to keep proving it week in and week out.”
Ground gainer – Running back Nick Chubb is up for the first FedEx Ground Player of the Week award. Chubb ran 18 times for 106 yards, marking the 30th 100-yard rushing game of his career. “He’s an amazing teammate, amazing running back, obviously, and it seems like he’s just always on it like every day,” Pocic said. “He’s just consistently great and definitely someone that he doesn’t even really talk much, but he kind of gives you that momentum and it gives you good energy.” Christian McCaffrey, who racked up 152 yards and a score in the 49ers win over the Steelers, and Austin Ekeler, who ran for 117 yards and a TD on 16 carries for the Chargers, are also nominated.
Good news – Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is going to be fine according to Stefanski after undergoing X-rays at the stadium after Sunday’s game.
