[jwplayer 1vROLFUW-ThvAeFxT]
The Browns defense will once again be without a key contributor when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday night. Starting defensive end Olivier Vernon has been ruled out for the Week 11 game with his lingering knee injury.
Vernon suffered the injury at the end of the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos. He missed Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, replaced in the lineup by Chad Thomas. The second-year end played well, containing Josh Allen’s running and notching a sack. Expect more of Thomas against Pittsburgh and the less-mobile Mason Rudolph at QB.
The only other Browns player ruled out is defensive back Eric Murray, who is also battling a knee injury. Like Vernon, Murray did not practice all week.