Tag: Denzel Ward

Final Browns injury report for Week 15: Wyatt Teller OUT

Teller and Andrew Sendejo are out while 5 others are questionable

The Cleveland Browns will be without their top run-blocking offensive lineman when they take the field in New York in Week 15. Starting right guard Wyatt Teller has been ruled out of the Browns game against the Giants with an ankle injury.

Teller is one of two Browns starters sidelined on the final injury report of the week. Safety Andrew Sendejo will also miss the game with a concussion. Chris Hubbard will fill in once again for Teller, while Sheldrick Redwine will get the starting nod for Sendejo.

On a more positive front, cornerback Denzel Ward (calf) is questionable for the game. He has missed the last three games and the secondary could sorely use Ward’s presence in New York. Fellow CB Kevin Johnson (groin), TE Austin Hooper (neck), TE David Njoku (knee) and WR KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) are also all listed as questionable for the game.

Coach Kevin Stefanski is hopeful Ward can play. Njoku’s injury cropped up late in the week but his limitations at practice were deemed precautionary by Stefanski in his Friday press briefing.

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Denzel Ward: ‘I feel great’, aiming to return vs. Giants

Ward has practiced on a limited basis two days in a row

Denzel Ward offered an optimistic assessment of his injury status on Thursday. Ward was a limited participant in practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday and he’s aiming to return for Sunday night’s matchup in New York with the Giants.

“I feel great,” Ward said in his press conference via Zoom. “Just glad to be back with the guys, glad to be back on the practice field and working toward game time. It was tough, but that is how life goes sometimes. Just fighting hard to hurry up, get healthy and get back out there to play with my team.”

Ward has missed the last three games after tweaking his calf in the win over Philadelphia. This is the first time since suffering the injury that the Pro Bowl cornerback has practiced two days in a row, even on a limited basis.

Ward reiterated, “(getting back and making plays) is definitely a goal of mine to kind of get back on top and help my team.”

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Denzel Ward and Austin Hooper back at Browns practice

Ward, Hooper and KhaDarel Hodge were all limited in Wednesday’s practice

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.

Browns postgame injury update: Andrew Sendejo in concussion protocol

Denzel Ward and KhaDarel Hodge are “progressing” per coach Kevin Stefanski

As is customary, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski began his first press conference of the new week with an injury update on the team.

The most severe news involves starting safety Andrew Sendejo. The veteran is in NFL’s concussion protocol following the team’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night. Sendejo appeared to suffer the brain injury in a high-speed collision with Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins on a 2-point conversion late in the game.

Dobbins took credit for creating the concussion in a classless move before he quickly deleted it from Twitter.

Starting CB Denzel Ward, who has missed the last three games, is “progressing” per Stefanski. He is battling a calf injury. Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge earned the same status with his hamstring. Hodge has missed the last two weeks.

Myles Garrett and Jedrick Wills each left Monday night’s game with injuries but quickly returned to play. Garrett has an elbow injury while Wills got cleated on his ankle. Stefanski notes that both will be evaluated throughout the week. That’s also true of right guard Wyatt Teller and his ongoing calf issues.

Interestingly, Stefanski refused to rule out a return from injured reserve for CB Greedy Williams. The second-year corner has not played this season since suffering a nerve injury in his shoulder in training camp. Williams revealed the extent of his injury in a social media post on Monday.

Final Browns injury report for Week 14 rules out Denzel Ward, KhaDarel Hodge

Two key players are ruled out and TE Austin Hooper is questionable in Week 14

The Cleveland Browns will face the Baltimore Ravens without their top cornerback and one of their key offensive weapons when the teams face off on Monday Night Football.

Cornerback Denzel Ward will miss his third consecutive game with a calf strain. There was hope Ward could get back for the key AFC North matchup with an extra day of rest, but the Browns did not want to risk lengthening the injury and will keep Ward inactive vs. Baltimore.

Wideout KhaDarel Hodge will also be out. It’s the second straight week for Hodge to miss with his hamstring issue. Hodge is the team’s best blocker at wide receiver and had stepped up as a passing target of late.

The only other player with an injury designation is tight end Austin Hooper, who is questionable after suffering a neck injury in Thursday’s practice.

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Browns injury update: Austin Hooper sits out with neck injury

Hooper, Denzel Ward and KhaDarel Hodge all sat out Friday’s practice

The Browns had some bad news on the injury front on Friday. Starting tight end Austin Hooper sat out the practice session with a neck injury.

Hooper had not been on the injury report earlier in the week, so his absence was a surprise. The Browns have not offered any details on the source or nature of the injury. Hooper has emerged as the second-leading receiver on the Browns with 30 receptions on the season.

With the team playing Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, the final official injury report is not completed until after Saturday’s session.

Cornerback Denzel Ward and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge were also idle on Friday with their ongoing injuries. Both Ward and Hodge are “progressing” towards playing according to head coach Kevin Stefanski but will need to get at least some practice in before the game to be active.

If Hooper’s injury keeps him out, expect more of David Njoku and Stephen Carlson in the lineup, with rookie Harrison Bryant bumping up to the No. 1 TE role.

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Denzel Ward sits out practice, still day-to-day

Ward still hasn’t practiced with his strained calf

Any hopes of having top cornerback Denzel Ward back for the Week 14 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens will remain on hold. Ward sat out Wednesday’s practice session as he continues to rehabilitate his injured calf.

Coach Kevin Stefanski offered no new update on Ward other than to note the medical staff is advising him daily on Ward’s status. The Pro Bowl cornerback has missed the last two games with his strained calf.

In his press conference on Monday, Stefanski made a note to change Ward’s status from week-to-week to day-to-day. However, Ward missed the first practice session of the week on Wednesday. The Browns do get an extra day of rest with the Ravens game taking place on Monday night.

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Browns postgame injury update: Denzel Ward’s status improves

Stefanski had positive news on a few players in his Monday press conference

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski offered an update on the list of injured players during his Monday press conference. Coach Stefanski had some encouraging news on a few fronts.

Most notable is the update on cornerback Denzel Ward. Stefanski used the term “day-to-day” to describe Ward and not the “week-to-week” terming he’s used with the Pro Bowl CB the last two weeks. Ward has a calf strain and has missed the last two games.

Stefanski also advised that linebacker Mack Wilson did not suffer a concussion during Sunday’s win over Tennessee. Wilson left the game and was evaluated for a brain injury but tests cleared Wilson.

On the wide receiver front, Taywan Taylor is still sidelined with a neck injury. The team is “gathering more info” on Taylor but he remains out for the immediate future. KhaDarel Hodge joined Ward in “day-to-day” status after missing Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.

Lastly, defensive end Porter Gustin is “making progress” in getting activated from the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. Gustin is the only player still on the list. Stefanski is hopeful Gustin can return for the Week 14 Monday Night Football matchup with the Ravens.

 

 

Browns inactives vs. Titans show 2 starters out with injuries

Denzel Ward will miss his second straight game with a calf strain

The Cleveland Browns inactive player list for Week 13 was a predictable assortment of names. With three players, including two starters, ruled out on Friday due to injuries, there wasn’t a lot of room for drama in coach Kevin Stefanski’s decisions.

Cornerback Denzel Ward and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge are both out with injuries that aren’t severe enough to land them on the injured reserve. Wideout Taywan Taylor is also out with a neck injury suffered in practice during the week.

The full inactives list:

WR KhaDarel Hodge

DE Joe Jackson

WR Taywan Taylor

CB Denzel Ward

RB Dontrell Hilliard

S Tedric Thompson

Thompson did not pass through the required COVID-19 protocols to practice with the team or make the trip to Nashville. He was claimed off waivers during the week and activated on Friday.

 

Browns injury update: Denzel Ward the only player fully sidelined in 1st practice of Week 13

Wednesday’s practice was delayed for another positive COVID-19 test

Nothing these days is simple for the Cleveland Browns in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wednesday’s practice session was delayed after yet another coronavirus-related closure of the team’s facilities in Berea.

This one proved temporary and involved a staff member testing positive for COVID-19, not a player. After going through the proper protocols, the Browns reopened in time for a practice kicking off an hour later than originally scheduled and one with no media present.

Only one player on the active roster, starting cornerback Denzel Ward, did not participate in the session. Ward is week-to-week with a calf strain. Coach Kevin Stefanski said earlier in the week he does not expect Ward to play in Tennessee.

Several Browns were limited participants:

  • RT Jack Conklin (knee)
  • DT Jordan Elliott (knee)
  • OL Nick Harris (ankle)
  • RB Kareem Hunt (thigh)
  • S Sheldrick Redwine (knee)
  • DT Vincent Taylor (knee)
  • RG Wyatt Teller (calf)
  • OC JC Tretter (knee)

The Browns will be back at practice–hopefully with no delays or snafus–again on Thursday.