Two key players who missed the Cleveland Browns’ big game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night were back at the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Starting QB Denzel Ward and tight end Austin Hooper were both limited participants in the session at the Browns training facility in Berea.
Getting Ward back would be a huge boon for the Browns defense. The Pro Bowl CB has missed the last three games with a calf strain, and the secondary has sorely missed his presence.
“We’ll see where Denzel is throughout this week,” coach Kevin Stefanski said in his press conference on Wednesday. “We’ll take that day by day. If Denzel’s able to make it back, obviously that would be a big boost for our team.”
Hooper was back after suffering a neck injury late last week in practice. While he was limited, Stefanski noted that the team’s top tight end was “trending in the right direction.”
Right guard Wyatt Teller sat out the practice session with a sore ankle, one that is unrelated to the calf strain that kept him out for several games earlier this season. Wideout KhaDarel Hodge was limited with his lingering hamstring injury.
Myles Garrett and Jedrick Wills, who each left Monday night’s game for a brief time with injuries, were not listed with any injury designations.