Tag: zadarius smith

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.

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

Another overall solid day for the Browns defense

The defense of the Cleveland Browns was dealt a difficult hand with injuries to Denzel Ward and Juan Thornhill during the game but found a way to slow down the Baltimore Ravens. Two of the Ravens’ touchdowns were because of a muffed punt and a pick-six and outside of that overall they played well.

Special teamer Mike Ford was thrust into action as a corner in this game and held his own overall including an interception in the first half. It was just another day at the office for Myles Garrett who just continues to build his resume for Defensive Player of the Year. Another sack and a half for Garrett but the biggest play he made was on a third down when he chased down Lamar Jackson to force a punt in a one-score game.

Overall they had some slow moments at times where the Ravens just made some big plays but it was a good day overall. Here are the top 10 defensive performances from Sunday according to PFF.

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

The defense absolutely dominated from start to finish Sunday

Anytime you can hold the opposing offense to less than a hundred net yards regardless of the opponent it is quite the accomplishment. The defense of the Cleveland Browns had the most dominant performance I can remember. Holding the Arizona Cardinals to less than two yards per play is as impressive as it comes. Turnovers from linebacker Sione Takitaki, defensive tackle Shelby Harris, and cornerback Denzel Ward certainly helped.

The defensive line didn’t allow rookie Clayton Tune to settle in at all as he was constantly under pressure all day long. Cleveland had 25 total quarterback pressures and sacked Tune seven times with defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson getting three himself.

The way the defensive line is playing makes the defensive backs’ jobs so much easier as they know they don’t have to hold the coverage all day. Denzel Ward is playing like a top-ten corner after a down year and Martin Emerson Jr continues to show he is the real deal in his second season.

Here are the top 10 defensive players from the shutout win according to PFF on Sunday.

Another metric shows how good the Browns’ defensive line has been

The defense continues to win up front early and often

It was clear this offseason that general manager Andrew Berry knew he had to improve the defensive line of the Cleveland Browns going into this season. Adding players like Za’Darius Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo at the disposal of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has paid off so far. According to Warren Sharp, the Browns are leading the NFL in the shortest time from snap to quarterback pressure at an impressive 2.29 seconds.

They have put a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks to make a decision quickly not giving them time to scan the field much before throwing the ball. It has been fun to watch as Myles Garrett is having maybe his best season so far with another favorable matchup this week against the Cardinals who are starting a rookie at quarterback.

The talent Cleveland has at cornerback behind this defensive line only puts them in a position to succeed. This is one of the better defenses in all of football as they look to build on it against the Cardinals.

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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.

Browns Injury Report: A flurry of injuries overwhelm Wednesday’s practice with Seahawks next

The Browns enter Week 8 quite banged up…

Sitting at 4-2, the Cleveland Browns are once again looking to shock the world as they will start P.J. Walker at quarterback against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle, also sitting at 4-2, enters this matchup as banged up as the Browns, who were without tight end David Njoku, running back Kareem Hunt, and a laundry list of other players on Wednesday.

Dealing with injuries for the past four weeks, however, the Browns have managed to squeak out wins against the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts in back-to-back weeks. They will be looking for similar luck this week as they travel out west for a two-game road trip against the Seahawks this week, then the Arizona Cardinals the week after that.

Here is the full list of players that were either limited in practice or missed practice for the Browns as they prepare for their Week 8 showdown in the Pacific Northwest. With two days of practice left, let’s hope this trends in the right direction.

Data Dump: Where are the Browns trending after Week 7?

A stat packed post showcasing where the Cleveland Browns rank across a multitude of categories.

The conclusion of the seventh week of the NFL schedule brings about an influx of data-driven analysis about the sport. The season is 1/3rd of the way over, and trends are becoming more pronounced as the sample size grows. As trends are further exposed, the predictive performance of models becomes more and more accurate. Teams are revealing how good they are, and the tiers across the league are beginning to solidify. With the trade deadline a week away, it’s not too late for a team to make drastic improvements.

Last season the San Francisco 49ers made their blockbuster move for Christian McCaffrey at the deadline, who elevated a good offense to an elite one. The Browns should also take a big swing on offense, as we’ll see, the numbers are not kind to them. The Browns have proven that their defense can win them games, but that is not a winning strategy long-term.

The Browns need to do anything to help the defensive unit out. The team cannot rely on Myles Garrett to net them 20 points in a game. If they think they can, they should try him at tight end. I’m not sure there’s anything that man can’t succeed at.

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Za’Darius Smith jogs off the field to the medical tent after sack

Za’Darius Smith leaves Browns Ravens game with an injury. He is questionable to return.

Defensive end Za’Darius Smith left the Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens matchup after suffering an injury in the first quarter. Smith was injured while sacking Lamar Jackson and jogged into the blue tent. Smith realized he was injured only after the obligatory celebration for big defensive plays. The veteran defensive end has a lot to celebrate, this is Smith’s first matchup against his former team. Za’Darius Smith is questionable to return to the game.

The Browns will need the power and speed of Smith to deal with Lamar Jackson and the dangerous rushing offense of the Ravens. Smith is a great run defender and pass rusher.

The Cleveland Browns were heavily injured going into the game. The team lost starting quarterback Deshaun Watson before the game after Watson went through his pregame warmup.  The Browns need to avoid more injuries if they are to compete in today’s matchup. The team has a bye week next week that should allow for the team to rest and get healthy.

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Browns Injury Report: Joel Bitonio, Kareem Hunt banged up on Wednesday

The Browns’ injury report was quite long, but featured two returning to practice.

The Cleveland Browns have the opportunity to advance to 3-1 this season as the Baltimore Ravens travel to Cleveland Browns Stadium for this Week 4 matchup. For the Browns, however, they have a few injuries to overcome, including both guard Joel Bitonio and running back Kareem Hunt who sat out with some nagging soreness.

They did, however, get two players back at practice after they missed the Week 3 win against the Tennessee Titans. Both cornerback Greg Newsome II and offensive lineman James Hudson III returned to the practice field for the Browns as they get set to take on their AFC North rival. Getting Newsome II back on the defensive side of the football would be a massive boost to an already stellar defense.

Here is the full injury list released by the Browns as they get ready to take on the Ravens this Sunday at home. With a unique opportunity to enter the bye with a 2-1 record in the AFC North, the Browns need to get healthy.

Podcast: Is the Browns’ defense the best in the NFL right now under Jim Schwartz?

Jim Schwartz has his defense playing as good as any right now

It has been a lot of fun to watch the defense of the Cleveland Browns under Jim Schwartz who has been downright dominant. Opposing offenses have converted only eight third downs in 41 tries which is a perfect 19.8%. They have been aggressive and smart and the defensive line is handling opposing offensive lines with relative ease.

According to ESPN’s Jake Trotter, the Browns defense ranks number one in efficiency. And PFF says the team has allowed -39 rushing yards before contact meaning consistently they are making contact with ball carriers in the backfield.

The night and day difference between the Browns’ defensive tackles defending the run and rushing the passer is incredible. Maurice Hurst finally healthy has shown he is an elite-level athlete with a great explosion off the line of scrimmage.

The team has only allowed one touchdown this season with 39 drivers which is impressive. According to Dan Murphy with the Browns PR team, the 491 total yards allowed through three games is the third-fewest in the NFL since 1970.

With the upgrades at defensive tackle and defensive end, the linebackers have flourished as they have been kept clean. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been playing at a high level showing the speed and athleticism that made him a top prospect in the NFL Draft.

It was a down year for Denzel Ward last year and he played some of his best football against the Titans Sunday. This defense has some ridiculous stats and has been the best in the NFL through three games. You can hear about these topics and more by watching this week’s podcast by clicking here.

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