Tag: Juan Thornhill

Juan Thornhill remains tone-deaf to criticism received for effort level

There is a reason the Browns rotated Ronnie Hickman back onto the field on Sunday…

Cleveland Browns safety Juan Thornhill has received criticism this week, and he continues to be tone-deaf in his response.

In the loss to the New Orleans Saints, Thornhill was seen jogging in backside pursuit as wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling took an ordinary catch down the field for a touchdown. As a result, Thornhill received a massive amount of backlash online for his effort level.

His response? To take to Instagram with a meme of Forrest Gump running, with a caption that reads “Me Thursday.”

 

It would have been nice to see the safety take accountability for his level of play against the Saints. Instead, he played it off as no big deal and a laughing matter on a team that is 2-8 on the season.

One of many veterans with an out in his contract after the season, do not expect Thornhill back in the brown and orange next season.

Juan Thornhill comes under fire after questionable effort vs. Saints

The veteran safety has some explaining to do.

The Cleveland Browns are experiencing an abysmal 2024 season after another loss to the New Orleans Saints, and it seems to have taken its toll on safety Juan Thornhill.

Thornhill, who signed as a free agent before the 2023 season, has spent most of his time with the team on Injured Reserve. And now, he has come under fire for giving questionable effort on a long catch-and-run that resulted in a Saints touchdown on Sunday. The Browns lost the game 35-14.

As Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught the football and worked upfield, Thornhill can be seen in backside pursuit. For a player who ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2019, it sure looks like Thornhill has the brakes on a bit.

This is largely symptomatic of the effort the Browns have seen from players with money on the line this season like Thornhill and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, who made a “business decision” not to play against the Baltimore Ravens that cost him his starting job.

Can we just simulate the rest of the season already?

Injuries to key DBs highlight Ravens’ struggles with pass defense in loss to Browns

The Ravens entered this game dead last in the league in pass defense, so the Browns were well aware they could exploit the secondary.

Those who call the NFL a league of parity (not “parody,” OMG! That common malapropism drives me insane) could certainly point to today’s 29-24 win by the Cleveland Browns over the Baltimore Ravens.

Worst beat first in the AFC North division as Baltimore’s five-game win streak ended, as did Cleveland’s five-game losing skid.

Jameis Winston, who many football pundits have declared “washed” for some time, finished 27 of 41 passing for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while leading the Browns’ offense to heights that had not been seen under their franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson this season.

The Ravens entered this game dead last in the league in pass defense, so the Browns were well aware the secondary was a position group that could potentially be exploited.

And things worsened for Baltimore even before a single pass was thrown, as Nate Wiggins (illness), Marlon Humphrey (ankle), and T.J. Tampa (IR) were all ruled out.

More change was still to come in the defensive backs position group, as Marcus Williams was benched for being largely ineffective this season. The Ravens’ pass defense has been a persistent problem this year, but it’s not as bad as it may seem.

Baltimore is so stout against the run that opponents consistently find themselves having to rely on their passing attacks heavily. Also, the Ravens entered the day in first place, with a 5-2 record, and teams with winning records tend to find themselves ahead, and even well ahead, most of the time.

And what do you do when you’re behind, often well behind?  You pretty much have to pass.

So, while today was undoubtedly a shocking surprise defeat, all is not lost.

Ravens take a step back in shocking 29-24 loss to the Browns in Week 8

Ravens take a step back in shocking 29-24 loss to the Browns in Week 8

Baltimore has a penchant for blowing late fourth-quarter leads, but on Sunday, the Ravens took a step back toward the inconsistent unit that lost two straight to start the season.

In what can only be described as a shocking loss, the Cleveland Browns had their most impactful performance without Deshaun Watson in a 29-24 victory over first-place Baltimore in Week 8.

Lamar Jackson started the game 6-6 passing but finished 23-38 passing, for 289 yards (7.6 avg), two touchdowns, and zero interceptions with a 101.8 rating. Just like Baltimore had their five-game winning streak snapped, star running back Derrick Henry came back to earth, rushing for only 73 yards (6.6 avg) and one touchdown on 11 carries.

After missing two practices during the week with an ankle injury, second-year wideout Zay Flowers posted another 100-yard game, logging seven catches for 115 yards on the afternoon.

Zach Orr’s defense played without two starters at cornerback, and Jameis Winston carved up the Ravens. The former Heisman Trophy winner went 23-38 passing for 334 yards and three touchdowns.

The Browns took the lead when Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass — his third of the game — to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds left as Cleveland erased weeks of frustration.

Baltimore will now look to regroup with Bo Nix and the upstart Broncos heading to M&T Bank Stadium in Week 9.

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Browns set to get back both starting safeties vs. Bengals

Both Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill returned to practice on Wednesday

The Cleveland Browns are set to get both Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill back as they take on the Cincinnati Bengals.

Delpit, who missed the last game with a concussion suffered against the Washington Commanders, has cleared the protocol and will resume his role. Rodney McLeod and Ronnie Hickman Jr. have been holding down the fort, but there is no question that Delpit is the best player in that room.

Getting him back will be a boost.

Thornhill, who re-agitated an existing calf injury in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, has been out since. He has now been designated for return from Injured Reserve. This does not mean he will return against the Bengals this weekend, but the Browns have opened his 21-day activation window to return to practice.

If he cannot go, expect McLeod and Hickman to continue to rotate in at free safety. With Nick Chubb also returning, can these returns continue to give the Browns a much-needed boost?

Juan Thornhill shares image of Browns white helmets with white facemask

The white facemasks look even better on the white helmets

Earlier in the off-season, the Cleveland Browns listened to their fans and elected to permanently bring back white facemasks. They look so much better and really pop in the lights of primetime like the gray ones just couldn’t.

Browns safety Juan Thornhill shared an image on social media of the team’s throwback white helmets, this time with a white facemask as well. It is interesting how big of a difference something so small, like a facemask color, can make something look significantly better.

Thornhill battled a calf injury all year in 2023 and wasn’t able to be the player he was when he won a couple of Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. Healthy in 2024, he will make the defense even better as a true safety blanket on the back end of Jim Schwartz’s unit.

Less than a week remains until the off-season ends and the Browns start training camp preparing for the 2024 season.

Browns Podcast: Previewing Cleveland’s group at the safety position

Cleveland’s safety group has the talent to get the job done

The Cleveland Browns had one of the league’s best defenses in 2023, and their secondary played a big part in that. Last year was a disappointing year for safety Juan Thornhill, who injured his calf before the first game and had it linger all season. Thornhill will be better in 2024, and having him as a safety blanket over the top will help this defense be great again.

Grant Delpit is ready to break out, and having a chess piece like that can be moved around is invaluable for Jim Schwartz. And then you have the veteran Rodney Mcleod Jr., who has seen a lot of football and can play all over the defensive backfield like Delpit.

This group of safeties isn’t quite as good as the corners but still has plenty of talent. You can hear more about the safety room, Chubb’s squatting video, and more by clicking here to check out the latest podcast.

Browns Inactives: Both Denzel Ward and Juan Thornhill will play vs. Texans

Here are the Browns’ inactives against the Texans

The wait is nearly over as the Cleveland Browns are back in the playoffs taking on the Texans on the road in Houston. And both cornerback Denzel Ward and safety Juan Thornhill will be active in this one.

Ward, who was injured in practice, is active today and will play the Texans. In addition, Thornhill is also active, which is a huge boost having both against rookie C.J. Stroud.

Unfortunately, running back Pierre Strong Jr. will not be able to go today as the team called up John Kelly from the practice squad to replace him. That brings an interesting question about who will take the kick return snaps with Strong out.

After the team talked about Jeff Driskel being the backup he is not active though he is the emergency third quarterback should both Joe Flacco and P.J. Walker get injured. Here are the inactives for today’s Wild Card matchup as the Browns look to advance to the divisional round.

Browns Inactives: Amari Cooper OUT, Juan Thornhill active vs. Jets

As the Browns take on the Jets, Amari Cooper will not play as Juan Thornhill returns to the field.

With the potential to clinch a playoff spot on the line tonight against the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns will get one questionable starter on the field. They will, however, be missing a massive contributor. While both wide receiver Amari Cooper and safety Juan Thornhill were iffy to go on a short week, Thornhill will suit up while Cooper will be unable to go in this Thursday Night Football showdown against the Jets.

The Browns will miss Cooper dearlyt in this game against Sauce Gardner and company in the New York secondary. Fresh off of a record-breaking performance against the Texans, quarterback Joe Flacco will turn to Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman in this one.

For Thornhill, this is his first game back in the lineup after missing three straight games with a calf injury that has been nagging him all season. He will be joined by rookie Ronnie Hickman Jr., D’Anthony Bell, and 10-year veteran Duron Harmon in the back end of the Cleveland secondary.

Here is the full list of inactives who will not play in this game, highlighted by injured starters Amari Cooper, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Anthony Walker Jr., Dustin Hopkins, and Corey Bojorquez.

Browns Injury Report: Amari Cooper, Juan Thornhill listed as questionable vs. Jets

The status of a handful of starters is up in the air tomorrow night.

The Cleveland Browns will enter their Thursday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets likely without both their kicker and their punter. They may also, however, be without starters Amari Cooper and Juan Thornhill, as both players are listed as questionable for this primetime game.

Being without Cooper, off of his record-setting outing against the Houston Texans, would be a massive loss for a wide receiver room that has not had anyone truly step up without him. However, given that it is a short week, the Browns are likely giving Cooper the time he needs so that he can play against the Jets.

If Thornhill cannot go again, which would be his fourth missed game in a row, rookie Ronnie Hickman Jr., D’Anthony Bell, and 10-year veteran Duron Harmon will have to step up once again.

As the Browns look to clinch their first playoff berth in three years, here is everyone who appeared on Wednesday’s injury report on the eve of this matchup against the Jets.