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Browns must overcome recent injuries to make playoffs
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns (8-5) play the Chicago Bears (5-8) today in Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns will be without several key players due to a rash of recent injuries that don’t take into account Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb and Jack Conklin who were hurt early in the season.
The injury list has grown to include offensive tackles Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr., defensive linemen Maurice Hurst II and Ogbo Okoronkwo, defensive backs Grant Delpit and Rodney McLeod, all of whom except maybe Okoronkwo are out for the season.
The Browns will need the next man to step up big time if they are to make the playoffs ahead of a bunch of teams that are one game back nipping at their heels. Beating much-improved Justin Field’s Bears would be a first step in the right direction.
The Browns will be in familiar territory this week, attempting to plug holes left by injuries to starters or key players across their roster. The defense got hit the hardest in this recent wave of injuries. Safety Grant Delpit is on IR. Defensive tackle Mo Hurst II is out for the season. Ogbo Okoronkwo, the third edge rusher who has played nearly as many snaps as starter Za’Darius Smith, could be lost for the season.
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Joe Flacco, with his new contract, throws a couple of touchdowns to lead the Browns to victory, 35-28.
The common NFL mantra of “next man up” is being put to the test in a big way by this Browns team.
So far, they’ve managed to get to 8-5. Sure, part of why they’ve been successful is adding Joe Flacco via free agency, but they’ve also had to rely on players down their depth chart to step up and fill important roles.
Here are three reasons the Browns have made “next man up” work so far.
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said head coach Kevin Stefanski makes it clear to his assistants that they need to make sure players are ready if they’re called upon.
“When those injuries happen, guys go to IR, but you’re using the practice squad as like an extension of the roster,” Ventrone said. “So (Stefanski)’s communicating with the coaches like that, we need to develop those players that are on the practice squad because they’re really an extension of the roster.
Those are the next guys that we’re looking to play and elevate. So his communication to the coaching staff at the beginning of the season, and obviously the players understand that you got to be ready to go, you got to prepare every week like you’re playing in the game. I think our coaching staff has done a really good job of rallying and preparing those players that are having more opportunities now due to injury.”
