Week 16 Cleveland Browns news and notes: Joel Bitonio and others remain ‘day to day’
Head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the team’s injuries right away during his day-after Zoom call with the media on Monday. However, he provided little insight into how those injuries will affect the Browns’ travel to Houston to face the Texans next Sunday in a game rife with AFC playoff implications.”Don’t really have any major injury updates, guys,” Stefanski added. “Everybody’s basically day to day there.”
The most notable is All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio, who exited the game with 6:08 left in the first quarter. Bitonio suffered what was announced to be a back injury during pregame warmups.Bitonio did not play in the Browns’ Week 6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers because he was recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery during the bye week.Michael Dunn, who also replaced Bitonio on Sunday, started in his stead, ending the All-Star’s 102-game regular-season start run.
“Low back injury,” said Stefanski. “I’m not sure if it’s more than that.” I understand how difficult that is. He tried to go but felt he couldn’t.”The statuses of linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (knee) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf) are also being monitored this week. Both missed Sunday’s game due to injury, with Thornhill missing his second straight.Tony Fields II took Walker’s place in the lineup. Thornhill was replaced by Ronnie Hickman, a rookie.
The offensive line for the Cleveland Browns is still in upheaval.
Bitonio is one of two offensive linemen whose availability for the game against the Texans is vital. The other is center Ethan Pocic, who missed Sunday’s game due to a stinger he suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars the week before.
Pocic was replaced by Nick Harris, who played all but one snap. After being shook up on a second-down sack early in the fourth quarter, Harris had to leave the game for a play, but he returned at the start of the next series.
Rookie Luke Wypler replaced Harris on the one play he missed. It was the sixth-round pick from Ohio State’s fourth offensive snap and 21st overall snap.
If both Bitonio and Pocic are unable to play in Houston, the Browns will start the eighth different line combination this season, with Harris, Dunn, and Wyatt Teller at guard and Geron Christian and James Hudson III at tackle. They started their sixth different one against the Bears on Sunday, with Harris at center, Bitonio and Teller at guard, Christian and Hudson at tackle.
“I think our guys understand the realities of this game,” Stefanski explained. “We don’t spend much time in the world of woulda, coulda, shoulda.” Just deal with the situation at hand. And I believe that is a testament to the players’ leadership.”
QB for the Houston TexansC.J. Stroud is still in concussion protocol and is questionable versus the Browns.
The Browns will not be the only team concerned about their quarterback’s status as they go to Houston this week. C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ rookie sensation, is still in the concussion protocol, which he has been in for more than a week.
Stroud, the presumptive NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was injured in Houston’s Week 14 loss to the New York Jets. He did not play in the Texans’ 16-13 overtime triumph over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, with Case Keenum taking his place. “C.J. is still in the concussion protocol,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “We’ll see how he progresses throughout the week.”
If Keenum plays, it will be a sort of reunion. In 2020 and 2021, the experienced quarterback served as Baker Mayfield’s backup in Cleveland, appearing in nine games and starting two.Stefanski has worked with Keenum on both the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings.
“Yeah, we’ll see where that goes,” Stefanski said on Monday. “They obviously have a talented roster, so we’ll see.” Case in point, someone I’ve worked with in two places over the years. Great guy, happy to see him down there, and a fantastic QB. He’s won at every level, after all, so we’ll see how the week goes. But, obviously, Case is someone I greatly like.”
The Cleveland Browns’ run game was non-existent versus the Chicago Bears.
The Browns rushed for 29 yards on 18 attempts, a season low. Jerome Ford, who was nursing a sore wrist from a previous injury, led the way with 20 yards on eight tries. Obviously, the offensive line ailments contributed to the troubles. Ford, on the other hand, isn’t concerned that his team’s performance on Sunday will carry over into the final three regular-season games.
“I guess they have a little effect, but you could say we got a run game, but it isn’t where it could be.” We’ve got some new folks jumping in, and they’re doing a good job. I just feel like, okay, the run game isn’t ideal, but we can still win games. And, in my opinion, the finest stat at the end of a game is a win. So, whether the run game is terrific or bad, as long as we get the win, I believe we’ll stick with it.”