Tag: Alex Wright

PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Bengals

The backup defense struggled to finish the regular season

Just like they did for the offense Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns rested most of their significant contributors in the season finale against the Bengals. It was not a good start in Cincinnati as the Bengals scored 24 points in the first half and took a commanding 24-0 lead into the break. They played better in the second half as the Bengals also started to pull their starters.

Young safety D’Anthony Bell continued his strong season with his second interception and he played well for most of the day in both facets of the game. Vincent Gray who was elevated from the practice squad for the game had a great day in coverage and made a couple of impressive plays.

Sam Kamara showed his versatility by playing both inside and outside with consistent success. Rookie Isaiah McGuire might have had the best day as he registered five quarterback pressures and two sacks on the day. Here are the Top 10 performances for the defense according to PFF.

4 Downs: Who cares? A meaningless game with little to take away vs. Bengals

You won’t find a more meaningless game than this one.

The Cleveland Browns have ended their 2023 regular season with a record of 11-6. Despite solid performances by wide receiver David Bell and defensive end Alex Wright, the Browns’ backups fell to the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 14-31 as they now prepare for the Houston Texans next week.

The Bengals did not rest their starters as running back Joe Mixon had his best game in two years against this reserve unit. Jake Browning was also able to find success through the air, ending the game with 156 yards and three touchdowns passing.

Overall, the game is about what you would expect for a team resting all of their starters with their spot in the playoffs already locked down. The real test lies ahead as the Browns get set to travel to Houston to take on the Texans in the first round of the playoffs.

And for the last time this regular season, here is your 4 Downs from this meaningless Week 18 loss to the Bengals.

PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Broncos

Cleveland’s run defense struggled at times in Denver

At times on Sunday, the Denver Broncos were able to just run the ball at will on the defense of the Cleveland Browns. The defense continued to struggle in the first quarter and Denver’s coach Sean Payton schemed up a great gameplan to attack Cleveland’s run defense.

Jim Schwartz and company have got to figure out why the unit has had so many slow starts and find a way to eliminate them. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was fantastic in this game, his best as a pro, he was all over the field making plays all day. He was playing fast and confident downhill in run defense and even added a sack that happened so fast I almost missed it watching live.

It sounds like Myles Garrett may have avoided major injury after the shoulder injury he sustained on Sunday. The team badly needs Denzel Ward back after an awful showing from Greg Newsome II who played his worst game as a pro.

Here are the top 10 defensive performances in Denver according to PFF.

WATCH: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah forces Russell Wilson fumble in Browns vs. Broncos

A forced fumble to end the scoring threat for Denver

After allowing a touchdown on Denver’s first offensive drive of the game, the Cleveland Browns forced their first turnover of the day. On fourth down, Broncos’ quarterback Russell Wilson took off for a first down, but linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was there to knock it loose. He had a textbook punch at the football and popped it loose for Alex Wright to jump on.

Once again it is clear early that the Browns will need to lean on this defense to get a win and you can tell both units know that. They aren’t getting pressure quick enough on Wilson and Jim Schwartz is likely scheming up ways to make that happen.

Another punt followed the Wilson fumble but the defense understands what they must do today. Owusu-Koramoah has been all over the field so far making plays for Cleveland and they will need that to continue. Wilson looks sharp outside of the fumble so the Browns have their work cut out for them today.

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Browns Injury Report: Denzel Ward returns to practice, Dawand Jones remains out Wednesday

The Browns get set to take on the Steelers shorthanded at QB and at RT with Dawand Jones. However, Denzel Ward returned to practice.

The Cleveland Browns got some devastating injury news on Wednesday, as it was announced that quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of the season with a broken shoulder. That is not the only concern with the Steelers on deck as right tackle Dawand Jones remains sidelined. On a bright note, however, cornerback Denzel Ward was a limited participant in practice as the Browns get set to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers despite leaving the game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Ward is not the only player to show up on the injury list, however, as there is a laundry list from Wednesday’s practice. A handful of players were resting on the first day of practice this week, so a bit of sifting through the names has to be done.

Here is the long list of players who did not practice or practiced on a limited basis as the Browns look to advance to 7-3 on the season against the Steelers on Sunday with an opportunity to take hold of the top spot in the AFC North.

Greg Newsome II highlights Browns’ inactives, Dawand Jones active vs. Cardinals

The Browns have released their inactives against the Cardinals

Coming into this Week 9 matchup, the Cleveland Browns have already ruled out cornerback Greg Newsome II, wide receiver David Bell, and defensive end Alex Wright. Offensive tackle Dawand Jones was named as questionable for the game but is officially active against the Arizona Cardinals.

Due to the injury to Bell and the trade of Donovan Peoples-Jones, the Browns have promoted James Proche II from the practice squad for this game. Fourth round rookie Isaiah McGuire is set to make his NFL debut in this game due to the injury of Wright, who has come into his own this season for Jim Schwartz and his defensive unit.

Look for third round rookie wide receiver Cedric Tillman to see a massive increase in his role as well. This is an excellent game for quarterback Deshaun Watson to get his footing underneath him, but also for the rookie class to have a breakout.

Here is the full list of inactives for Cleveland as they look to advance to 5-3 against the 1-7 Cardinals.

Browns Injury Report: Dawand Jones questionable, Greg Newsome out vs. Cardinals

And the last injury report of the week…

The Cleveland Browns started the week with a laundry list of injuries, but now enter their Week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals in rather good health. The big news is quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was not given an injury designation and has been named the starting quarterback as the Browns return home to take on the 1-7 Cardinals. However, in some not-so-good news, cornerback Greg Newsome was ruled out and offensive tackle Dawand Jones has been listed as questionable.

Newsome will not be the only player to miss, but the only starter that will not suit up. This has become a theme throughout his collegiate and NFL career. His Northwestern colleague Cameron Mitchell will get the reps in the nickel in his absence.

Here is the full injury report of every player who was limited in practice or missed practice on Friday as the Browns get set to take on the Cardinals.

Browns Injury Report: Cleveland starts Cardinals week with laundry list of injuries

The Browns got one key piece back in Deshaun Watson, but they are missing Dawand Jones as they prepare for the Cardinals

The Cleveland Browns are sitting at 4-3 on the season, looking to get back in the win column against the 1-7 Arizona Cardinals. As it sits just four days until gameday, however, the Browns have a lot of injuries to work through. While they got quarterback Deshaun Watson back to practice, they had a long list of players who missed. After exiting the game against the Seattle Seahawks, offensive tackle Dawand Jones has not yet returned to practice and is perhaps the biggest name on the list (no pun intended).

If Jones cannot go, the Browns will be forced to start their third different right tackle on the season in third-year player James Hudson III. It is a great thing to have the offensive line depth the Browns have as Hudson filled in against the Seahawks, grading out well in that game.

Here is the full list of every player who either missed practice on Wednesday or was limited by an injury.

Report: Browns DE Alex Wright questionable to return with knee injury vs. Seahawks

Wright sustained a knee injury in the second half of the Browns’ Week 8 match with the Seattle Seahawks.

Cleveland Browns defense end Alex Wright left Week 8 with a knee injury and is reportedly questionable to return against the Seattle Seahawks, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. It’s unclear when the injury occurred in the second half, but Wright’s injury is just one of several for the Browns in Week 8.

Cornerback Greg Newsome was ruled out with a groin injury shortly after halftime. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith limped off, and right tackle Dawand Jones also exited the game and made a trip to the locker room as well.

Wright missed time during the offseason with a knee injury as well, but it’s unknown if it’s a related ailment. He also dealt with a concussion last week. The second-year defensive end had tallied one sack, eight combined tackles and two quarterback hits this season already.

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PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Colts

It wasn’t the defense’s best performance

Coming off an impressive performance against the San Francisco 49ers the defense of the Cleveland Browns had a bit of a letdown defensively against the Colts. They struggled in zone coverage again like against the Baltimore Ravens, it is clear that the team is much more successful when they play man coverage. But it was far from just a bad day as defensive end Myles Garrett had one of the most impressive games of his career.

It’s the second time this year that he took over a game and put up a defensive player of the year type performance. Two sacks, two forced fumbles one of which was recovered for a touchdown, and a blocked field goal.

The Colts came to play and Shane Steichen called an impressive game for their offense. Let’s take a look at the ten best performances for the Browns on defense according to PFF in the 39-38 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.