Tag: Cleveland Browns

Ex-Chiefs WR, two-time Super Bowl champion signs with Saints

According to a report from Tom Pelissero, the #Saints signed ex-#Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling after their Week 7 loss to the #Broncos.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the New Orleans Saints signed former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Monday after their Week 7 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Valdes-Scantling was released by the Buffalo Bills last week after they traded with the Cleveland Browns for star wideout Amari Cooper.

Given Kansas City’s lack of depth at the receiver position after injuries struck Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and Rashee Rice, some Chiefs fans thought that Valdes-Scantling would be a logical pickup for the defending Super Bowl champions.

But, now that Valdes-Scantling has agreed to terms with New Orleans, Kansas City will have to look elsewhere if it intends to sign another pass-catcher before Week 8.

 

Valdes-Scantling was a key part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII and LVIII rosters and is sure to make an immediate impact for the Saints if he sees playing time in Week 8.

Stay tuned to see if Kansas City decides to sign another receiver this week after veteran pass-catcher JuJu Smith-Schuster’s early exit from the Chiefs’ Week 7 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers due to injury.

Bengals rookie Amarius Mims looked good vs. Myles Garrett, Browns

The Bengals have a hit on their hands with first-round rookie Amarius Mims.

Cincinnati Bengals first-round rookie Amarius Mims was forced into action this year after a season-ending injury to Trent Brown.

It has been a trial by fire for the rookie, with perhaps the biggest test coming during Sunday’s win over Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns.

Mims passed the test about as well as anyone could ask.

While the Browns sacked Joe Burrow three times, Garrett didn’t get one of them. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t disruptive, of course. But there was just one sack to Mims’ side all game — and as ESPN’s Ben Baby pointed out, it came on a play that nearly went six seconds and involved tight end Mike Gesicki releasing from a block to go run a route:

According to The 33rd Team, Mims allowed the fifth-lowest pressure rate (3.6 percent) of all rookie offensive linemen in Week 7.

No, Mims hasn’t been perfect and yes, there will be future mistakes. But this play is why the Bengals drafted him despite some attendance concerns on his resume and he was likely on track to steal the starting job over the summer before a pec injury.

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Elijah Moore sidelined vs. Bengals for disciplinary reasons

His second year with the Browns looks like his last.

Wide receiver Elijah Moore may have his days numbered with the Cleveland Browns in his second season and contract year.

The Browns lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, dropping their fifth game in a row, but it turns out their issues run much deeper. The wide receiver has not been a productive member of the team since coming over from the New York Jets, and now he has been a hassle off the field as well.

Speaking to the media after the game against the Bengals, head coach Kevin Stefanski stated that Moore was sidelined early in the game due to disciplinary problems. Stefanski stated he would keep what the discipline was for internally, but was open enough to let the media know he was subject to team punishment.

Since the trade of Amari Cooper, who scored a touchdown in his debut with the Buffalo Bills, the Browns need another wide receiver to step up. Yesterday that was Cedric Tillman. Can Moore be that guy or are his days numbered?

Deshaun Watson era ends with as much angst as it started with

His time with the Browns, perhaps his career, is over. And it ended with as much anger and angst as it started with

The Deshaun Watson is over as the Cleveland Browns quarterback tore his achilles in the loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. And one thing is clear: it ended with as much angst and chaos as it started with.

When the Browns first acquired Watson from the Houston Texans, it caused a commotion on social media around Northeast Ohio and beyond. It caused beat writers and analysts to quit, placed protesters outside of the house of head coach Kevin Stefanski, and led to one of the most cringe-worthy press conferences we’ve ever witnessed as the team introduced their new quarterback.

Since the trade, Watson had not lived up to the hype. He has missed more games than he has started, has fallen near the bottom of the NFL in every quarterback metric in games he has played, and has soaked in all of the guaranteed money the Browns have given him.

Let’s face it. After another season-ending injury and subpar play, the Watson era is over. And his career might be over. While he will likely be back on the roster in 2025, it would be stunning to see him take another snap in a Cleveland Browns uniform.

And with that being the case, it ended just as horribly.

Not only was Watson booed when they introduced him during the pregame festivities, his first home game after a disappointing three-game road trip, but they booed him after his achilles shot up his calf. Leaving the field on a cart and in tears, this is how his time in Cleveland ends.

Browns players like Myles Garrett and Jameis Winston went after the fanbase for their reaction to one of their own getting hurt. Garrett even went as far as to say that the fans “should be ashamed of” themselves for their actions.

It’s been difficult to be a fan of this team over the last three seasons. It’s been difficult to cover them. It’s difficult for a player to defend one of their own against the very fans that love them. Every bit of this has been difficult since March of 2022. And it leads to mixed feelings, reactions, and decisions from every party involved.

There is a wedge between the players and the fans, and one that the organization largely forced on both parties.

Whatever is next for Watson, and it’s hard to see another team dialing his number based on his play on the field mixed with what has happened off of it, this exit sums up his time as a member of the Browns and the 2022-2024 era as a whole in Cleveland.

The Deshaun Watson era ends as horribly as it started.

Third QB is the charm as Jameis Winston finds David Njoku for 6

At least the Browns made it a game!

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston found tight end David Njoku late in the game to bring the team back within seven in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Filling in for the injured Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson late in the fourth, Winston led a 12-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. This drive was capped off by an eight-yard pass to tight end David Njoku and a two-point conversion reception by Cedric Tillman.

The Browns trailed 21-14 late in the fourth with no timeouts and needed to recover an onside kick to keep the game alive. They failed to do so.

Winston completed five of 11 passes on his only drive of the game with an 18-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy and a 25-yard completion to Tillman as the biggest plays. Due to injuries to both Watson and Thompson-Robinson, Winston was allowed to enter the game as the emergency quarterback despite being inactive. Watson left the game with an Achilles injury in the first half, while Thompson-Robinson exited in the fourth quarter with a finger injury.

The offense failed to get enough going to win this game and they will have to re-evaluate the quarterback position following multiple injuries. While the return of Nick Chubb brought a glimmer of positivity, the lack of average offense production has derailed the season thus far.

The good, the bad, the ugly: Instant analysis from Browns’ loss to Bengals in Week 7

Little good, some bad, mostly ugly in the loss to the Bengals.

The Cleveland Browns not only lost the game to the Cincinnati Bengals, but they have also lost quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season.

What looked like a popped achilles in the second quarter, the Browns replaced Watson with second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He also left the game with a finger injury while emergency third quarterback Jameis Winston finished the game (and looked the best).

The return of running back Nick Chubb was marred, although he did score a touchdown in his return to the field. On a pitch count, Chubb finished with just 22 yards on 11 carries, adding another 10 yards on one catch. He will look to get it rolling next week against the Baltimore Ravens.

Tight end David Njoku led the team in catches with 10 for 76 and a touchdown, wide receiver Cedric Tillman led the team in yards with 81 on eight catches, and Jerry Jeudy failed to get anything going.

Ultimately the Browns lost the game 21-14 to fall to 1-6 on the season. What instant analysis stood out from this game? Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly from this Week 7 loss:

The good: The defense withstood the test in this one for the Browns

The Browns’ defense, outside of getting caught by Ja’Marr Chase on a one-on-one matchup (as happens to every team once per game), played a strong game against the Bengals. Creating turnovers remains a massive issue, but they held the Cincinnati offense to just 14 points on the day.

Defensive linemen Shelby Harris and defensive end Za’Darius Smith both came away with sacks of Joe Burrow in this one. Second-year defensive end Isaiah McGuire and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II split a sack as well.

Sitting at 1-6, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is going to have to find a way to keep these guys locked in and motivated as the season looks completely lost already. However, there are still contract extensions on the line and young players who will see playing time.

Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate is an emerging player, defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. needs live reps, and cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. is going to have to prove he is worth a contract extension after a slow start to the season. Some of these guys even have Pro Bowl clauses in their contracts.

There are still players who need to play hard. We’ll see what else happens after that.

The bad: The Browns now have one healthy quarterback

So not only is Deshaun Watson out for the season, and likely done in a Cleveland Browns uniform (and likely the end to his NFL career), but backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson left the game after hitting his finger on the helmet of a defender.

This left just Jameis Winston, who led an offensive scoring drive for the Browns to give them a shot to win at the end of the game. It’s evident that Winston deserves to start for the Browns the rest of the way out, but who will back him up if Thompson-Robinson has to miss time?

The ugly: What is left to save from a 1-6 start and who else could be traded?

Let’s call it like it is. The Browns need to play their younger players, they need to trade players who are on the other side of 30 with less than two years left on their contract, and they need to look forward to evaluating the guys who will actually be a part of their future.

This leaves players like defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who has already been a rumored target of the Detroit Lions, defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris, offensive tackle Jack Conklin, and more on the chopping block to be traded.

Even starting Winston is a risk because he can actually win you games and hurt draft positioning. However, the only way to really evaluate the other players on the offensive side is the ball is with a functional quarterback, and Winston seems like the only one on the roster.

Bengals injury updates immediately after Week 7 vs. Browns

The Bengals suffered multiple injuries vs. Browns in Week 7.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, 21-14.

Along the way, the Bengals suffered a handful of notable injuries that spanned both sides of the football.

Here’s a quick rundown, plus updates as they happen.

 

OT Orlando Brown Jr. injury update

Brown, the starting left tackle, limped off the field in the first half and went to the blue medical tent with trainers. Cody Ford replaced him, which places the team in a tough spot because he’s also a possible backup at right tackle behind Amarius Mims with Trent Brown already out for the season. While he did remain on the sidelines, Brown didn’t return to the game.

 

S Geno Stone injury update

Stone was involved in a friendly fire collision with Vonn Bell in the fourth quarter and was carted off with an air cast on his leg. Jordan Battle, Daijahn Anthony and Tycen Anderson are the team’s backup safeties, though corner Mike Hilton also gets reps there, too.

Update: After the game, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Stone’s injury might not be as bad as he feared but cautioned to wait and see, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.

Update II: According to Dehner, Stone was walking around the postgame locker room without help from a brace or otherwise, potentially hinting at a major injury avoided.

 

S Vonn Bell injury update

Bell, the other half of the horrific collision near the two-minute warning, eventually got up and left the field under his own power.

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Bengals fans exhale as Joe Burrow and Co. stay alive with win vs. Browns

The Bengals are still in it and Bengals fans are thrilled.

The Cincinnati Bengals moved to 3-4 on the season with Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns.

There, it felt like a typical AFC North slugfest for the Bengals, with big plays needed on special teams and defense before the offense awoke. Once it did, Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for touchdowns.

With the season still alive and playoffs still possible, Bengals fans rejoiced. Some reactions from fans and media members on social media:

  • One fan reaction: “They could’ve won 2-0 and I would’ve been happy with a win in Cleveland”
  • Another: “Back home next week (white out game) with a chance to go to 4-4 AND our first home dub of the year!!”
  • Yet another pointed out the end of a drought: “For the first time in 2,576 days…THE BENGALS BEAT THE BROWNS IN CLEVELAND.”
  • Some want to see better from the offense: “Defense was historically bad, now they are willing the team to victories. Honestly, sometimes that’s the way it is. WTS, they HAVE to look at what they are doing on offense.”
  • From Cincy Jungle’s Anthony Cosenza: “On CBS postgame, Bill Cowher noted the Charlie Jones TD was the difference in the game, while noting Bengals’ offensive struggles. He’s technically not wrong, given the score, but the nuance is that the Browns’ 2nd TD came with a little under 1:30 to play in “junk time”…”
  • From Bengals UK: “Well, that was… a win. The first in Cleveland during the Taylor/Burrow era. Good for them, good for the team. 3-4, second win in a row and some decent stuff in there. Equally, some really average mince in there, too. Really need to figure out what’s going on on offense.”

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Bengals beat Browns: Quick takeaways after Week 7

Quick-hitting takeaways after Bengals vs. Browns in Week 7.

The Cincinnati Bengals moved one step closer to relevancy with the 21-14 Week 7 win over the Cleveland Browns.

There, the Bengals gutted out a rather standard-feeling AFC North clash by struggling on offense, getting some solid defense and a rare big play on special teams played a role.

Here is a look at some very quick takeaways right after the game.

 

The line is a concern

The front office getting conservative when it comes to depth has hurt the Bengals in both trenches this year. It might be the offense’s turn now after Orlando Brown Jr.’s injury on Sunday. Trent Brown is already out for the year at right tackle. Cody Ford can back up either spot. But now, if something happens to Amarius Mims, too, they’re in a bad spot.

 

Don’t panic on the offense…yet

The Bengals put up 30-plus in a handful of consecutive games this year before last week’s so-so showing against the New York Giants. But those Giants have the most AFC North-like front seven the Bengals will see outside the division all year. So…Sunday’s struggles weren’t all that shocking. Hanging 30-plus every week isn’t the standard (and doesn’t have to be if the defense keeps improving). Still, obviously, they do need to clean up the calls and execution, especially when it matters most.

 

Streak possible

Now the Bengals have a chance to really do something special. At 3-4, they next get winnable games against 3-2 Philadelphia and 2-4 Las Vegas before a rematch with Baltimore. That Week 5 loss to the Ravens was a three-point overtime collapse marred by mistakes and questionable play-calls. Point being, they could actually have a winning record going into that, then a game against the Chargers before the bye.

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Instant analysis after Bengals beat Browns to reach 3-4

Instant analysis after Bengals vs. Browns in Week 7.

The Cincinnati Bengals got the season back on track in Week 7 with a win over the Cleveland Browns.

A 21-14 final saw Joe Burrow’s offense experience big struggles at points. But a defense improving by the week kept things manageable until some of Burrow’s best weapons could break free.

Here’s a look at some quick notes and numbers to know from right after the game went final.

 

Quick Thoughts

  • Stunner of a start for special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons. On the opening kickoff, tight end Drew Sample was back deep with Charlie Jones, a new wrinkle. Sample proceeded to throw a block that sprang Jones for a 100-yard score.
  • At least in the first half, the Bengals defense looked more composed than it had all season. It didn’t fall for trick plays and even guys like Joseph Ossai were getting run stops.
  • Zac Taylor went for and failed on a fourth down early. Fans might find fault with it, especially in field goal range, but it felt refreshing to see the aggressiveness after so many conservative looks in recent weeks.
  • Bengals were hammering Deshaun Watson before his serious-looking injury. Good pressure day for the offense.
  • That Burrow touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase is just unguardable. Good coverage by the Browns, but just an uncanny connection on timing and placement from two guys with literally thousands of reps together.
  • Tee Higgins busting out that touchdown was gritty and just more proof of how badly they need to get him on an extension, too.
  • The Bengals are pretty lucky the Browns didn’t have Jameis Winston active after Watson went down. That Cleveland offense was mistimed and inaccurate, or moreso anyway, once the injury happened.
  • Sam Hubbard and Geno Stone recorded interceptions, nice moments for both players who have been looking to rebound after slow starts.

 

Key Stat

2-of-12: We’ve written endlessly about the Bengals playing down to their competition. This horrible number on third downs is a big reason why this game wasn’t a massive blowout.

 

Game Balls

WR Ja’Marr Chase: He just turns everything into a threat to score. On the day, he caught five passes for 55 yards and the touchdown.

DE Joseph Ossai: How about Ossai getting what felt like a big snap count and turning in a strong showing in all facets of the game? It’s key depth they need to be effective all season.

 

Top Takeaway

Go time: Many will bemoan the offense’s showing on Sunday. But it really wasn’t all that shocking after the line struggled against the Giants’ front seven last week. This was an ugly AFC North game and the line lost Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle. Now, the Bengals are 3-4 with two more winnable games right in front of them before a rematch with Baltimore.

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