CLEVELAND, Ohio Prior to their Monday Night Football game against the Broncos, the Browns ruled out five players on Saturday, including their starters.
Defensive lineman Sam Kamara (head), rookie cornerback Myles Harden (tibia), wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion), safety Juan Thornhill (calf), and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) are all sidelined.
After spending the whole week on the injured list due to a biceps ailment, Germain Ifedi is probably going to start at left tackle. On Saturday, he was registered as a full participant in practice. Geron Christian, a lineman who started nine games for the Browns last season, was also recently welcomed back.
Additionally, the organisation said that tight end Blake Whiteheart had been added to the active roster from the practice squad and that tight end Geoff Swaim had been placed on injured reserve due to a concussion.
Wide receiver Josh Reynolds is doubtful due to a hand injury, and cornerback Riley Moss was ruled out by the Broncos due to a knee issue.
Bo Nix, a rookie quarterback who was listed as restricted on Thursday’s initial projected injury report due to a back issue, has been fully recovered over the past two days and is expected to start against the Browns.
Wills, the No. 10 overall pick in 2020, has been out of action for three of the past four weeks after losing his left tackle position to Dawand Jones. He only played two snaps in the Week 9 game against the Chargers, but Jones’ season-ending injury in New Orleans gave him the chance to start again in a contract year.
Wills didn’t begin practicing until before the season opener versus Dallas after recovering from knee surgery that ruined his season the previous year. After starting against the Giants in Week 3 and coming back in Week 5 to start three straight games at left tackle before missing Week 8 against Baltimore, he was inactive for three of the first four games.
Wills, who said he made a “business decision” because he didn’t feel like he could play, was replaced by Jones in the starting lineup against the Ravens. Jones remained in the position until New Orleans lost him for the season.
Wills’ remarks were deemed a “poor choice of words” by head coach Kevin Stefanski, who also stated that Wills’ decision to sit out did not influence his choice to test Jones at left tackle.
He was inactive after training nonstop the week before the Saints game, as Stefanski stated that they thought it would be best to have his knee further treated over the weekend. Wills was inactive but limited last week before the Steelers game.
Since coming to Cleveland the previous season, Thornhill has struggled with calf problems. He tried to manage his injuries by playing in 11 games in 2023 and was placed on injured reserve this season in order to give his calf injury from the first game versus Dallas time to recover completely before making a comeback this year. Thornhill was hurt on Monday, according to Stefanski.
For the past two games, he has alternated with Ronnie Hickman, a second-year safety who is probably going to start in Thornhill’s place.
Following a hit by Pittsburgh linebacker Patrick Queen on the penultimate play of the third quarter, Tillman departed last Thursday night’s game against the Steelers. Tillman has caught 29 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games this season, nearly all of which have come in the final five games.
Jamari Thrash, a fifth-round pick and rookie receiver with one catch for 11 yards in four games, may see greater playing time as a result of his absence.
The saying, ‘You have to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready,’ comes to mind. Our backups do that,” Stefanski stated on Friday. “Jamari remains prepared whether he is on the practice squad or has been active but hasn’t played much. He puts in a lot of practice and has performed admirably when given the chance.
Kamara, a defensive lineman who can play both inside and out, was listed as having a head injury on the injury report on Friday. After moving Za’Darius Smith to the Lions, the Browns are looking for depth at the edge rush position. They claimed Cameron Thomas from Kansas City and James Houston from Detroit earlier this week.
Harden, a seventh-round selection, was placed back on injured reserve by the Browns this week. Since Week 2, he has been placed on injured reserve and has not played in a game this season.
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