Spencer German reports live from the Browns practice facility on all the news and rumors surrounding the Cleveland Browns as they prepare for the Chicago Bears at home this weekend.
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00:10 Hey Browns fans, Spencer German with you from Browns Digest out in Berea,
00:14 with another edition of one of our practice reports.
00:17 And unfortunately, it's more bad news for the Cleveland Browns in a week that's
00:22 been dominated by injury news the last couple of days.
00:25 After this, the Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars,
00:29 it didn't get any better for Cleveland on Wednesday.
00:31 We already knew as of Monday, rather,
00:35 that DeJuan Jones was placed on the IR with a knee injury, his season was over.
00:40 We also found out in the last couple days that Jedrick Wills,
00:43 who's already been on the IR with a knee injury, is now also done for the season.
00:47 There was hope that he could return to the field at some point later this year.
00:52 That is now not the case, he will remain on the IR and his season is over.
00:55 It got worse on Wednesday with news that on top of those two injuries,
01:01 we also got word that Grant Delpit will go to the IR as he continues to deal with
01:06 a groin injury now that he suffered in that game against the Jaguars.
01:09 And his season, regular season I should say, is over.
01:13 But there is hope that he can return at some point for
01:17 Cleveland if they are to make the playoffs,
01:19 which obviously is something that we think is likely to happen for this team.
01:23 But another unfortunate blow to the defense there, and we know he's at least out for
01:27 the remainder of the regular season here, he will not be part of this home stretch.
01:31 On top of that, we got news that Oboe Kowankwo, talented,
01:36 depth defensive end on the defensive side of the ball,
01:40 is likely to head to the IR with what's a torn pec or
01:44 a pec injury that Kevin Stefanski did not seem
01:48 very optimistic about the possibility that he will be okay.
01:52 Essentially, he was asked straight up, is this something that will be season ending?
01:57 He said it's trending that way, but he's holding out hope that it isn't gonna be
02:01 that, so it seems like one of those situations where they're getting a second
02:04 opinion, they're getting it double checked, but it does not look good for
02:08 Oboe Kowankwo as well.
02:09 So two more defensive players, two key defensive players at that,
02:13 because Oboe Kowankwo has been a great depth piece on this team.
02:16 He signed the three year $19 million contract in the offseason as part of this
02:20 unit that Andrew Berry really emphasized revamping along the defensive front.
02:26 And the thought process was, yeah, this is a great move as you pair him with
02:30 Miles Garrett and you pair him with Zedarius Smith,
02:32 who obviously came along a little bit later in the offseason.
02:35 He's done exactly what you would expect his role to be.
02:39 Four and a half sacks, he's got eight quarterback hits.
02:42 He was providing some pressure, making some plays here and there,
02:44 picking his spots, and that's what you were expecting from him.
02:47 So it's another unfortunate blow as an area that was a strength for
02:51 the Browns has now, I'm not gonna say become a weakness,
02:53 cuz you still got Miles Garrett and Zedarius Smith out there.
02:56 But it certainly has become a concern that you lose a lot of the depth in that
03:01 position group specifically, at a position that we know in the NFL today,
03:05 does get a lot of rotational players in there.
03:07 It's constantly moving guys in and out.
03:09 So to lose another one is an unfortunate blow,
03:13 along with the fact that we got the news Maurice Hurst is going to the IR,
03:16 which came down obviously yesterday.
03:18 So it's just been injury after injury after injury,
03:22 it has defined this season, unfortunately for the Browns,
03:26 despite the fact that they've continued to win games.
03:29 And it's remarkable really at this point, 13 players have now
03:34 been basically ruled out for the season with season ending injuries.
03:39 You could count Delpit as a 14th in the sense that his regular season is over.
03:45 But obviously, like I said, there is hope he returns for the postseason.
03:48 So that's I guess on the one positive ankle of hope you get on the injury front
03:54 today from Cleveland, or from the Browns rather.
03:56 But yeah, it's been an epidemic this year.
04:00 And frankly, spending several years on the beat of teams,
04:05 this has been unlike anything I've ever seen in terms of the injury front.
04:08 Like yes, injuries are going to happen in the NFL.
04:11 But to see this just exuberant amount is getting pretty excessive.
04:15 I mentioned though the team staying resilient.
04:17 It's been the story of the season, injury after injury after injury,
04:20 a whole boatload of them kind of getting dumped on the team this week.
04:23 And they continue to just preach that they're gonna continue to try to respond.
04:27 It's that next man up mentality that they've kind of lived by all season.
04:29 And I thought Joe Flacco had some pretty poignant words on reflecting on just
04:34 the sheer number of injuries they've dealt with this year.
04:36 And why this team's kind of been able to stay afloat and stay focused and
04:42 it hasn't gotten morale down inside the building.
04:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:48 >> I've probably been part of seasons where we've been injured like this.
04:50 I don't know if anywhere we've been, we're still standing eight and five.
04:54 So I think the fact that we've been able to go out there,
04:58 these guys have been able to go out there and still put together a bunch of wins.
05:02 It's definitely helped the mindset in terms of that.
05:05 Obviously, if it was the other way, you wouldn't be feeling as good.
05:10 But I think going out there and winning cures a lot.
05:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:15 >> He mentions there at the end, winning cures all and I know it's a cliche.
05:19 We all like to throw that out there, but I think it's very true.
05:21 If this season had gone south because of X number of injuries, like I said,
05:25 13 guys who are now done for the season with injuries that have cost them their
05:29 seasons, yeah, we'd be maybe having a different conversation,
05:33 vibes in that locker room maybe wouldn't be as good.
05:35 And I do wonder about how flawless it would be going with that next man up
05:39 mentality.
05:39 It does seem like to this point in number of areas that have been ravaged by
05:43 injuries, you haven't really missed a beat, which has been obviously a positive
05:47 thing for this team that they've responded in that way.
05:50 But if you're not winning games, if it's the opposite of what we're seeing now,
05:54 yeah, that stuff certainly weighs on a team more.
05:56 It's beneficial that they're in the playoff hunt, they're in the picture.
06:00 And they are eight and five right now with a chance to clinch a playoff for
06:02 coming up in the next couple weeks.
06:04 And that does kind of lead me to the next thing I wanna hit on here momentarily
06:08 is we played the clip from Flacco there.
06:11 And all you hear about around this Browns locker room is just his presence and
06:15 the poise that he brings and his demeanor in the huddle and tight situations.
06:20 He just doesn't waver, he's steady as they come.
06:22 He brings something that this team maybe has been lacking with any of the other
06:27 quarterbacks that they've obviously played this season.
06:29 And that includes DeSean Watson to an extent because he hadn't seen
06:32 everything that Joe Flacco has seen throughout a now 16 year career
06:36 as the Browns starting quarterback this season.
06:38 So I think the fact that he is here and
06:41 it feels like this story has been incredible to begin with.
06:45 The fact that a guy a couple weeks ago who's sitting on his couch watching
06:49 these games is now starting a quarterback for you.
06:52 And doing it effectively and playing very well to boot is an impressive,
06:57 impressive feat and a fun story for anybody who follows the NFL.
07:00 It's gotta be one of the best stories going right now.
07:04 But I do think because of his experience, because of that savviness and
07:08 that football IQ that he has and the fact that he's seen so
07:10 many different things.
07:11 I think that bodes well for
07:12 a team like Cleveland who's dealing with all these injuries down the stretch.
07:15 It feels like he was, I don't know if it's some sort of
07:20 divine intervention that he ends up here and it's the perfect time for him.
07:26 Given everything that this team's dealt with and given kind of where they're at
07:29 in the season with things where maybe teetering at the quarterback position,
07:32 you lose to Sean Watson.
07:34 He comes in, provides stability, and
07:36 he gets to be the guy captaining this offense as they try to make a run
07:39 to the playoffs.
07:40 I thought Kevin Stefanski talked about that a little bit as well.
07:43 Here's what he had to say on having the veteran Joe Flacco's presence on this
07:47 team and in this locker room.
07:48 >> I think again it speaks to Joe's expertise in this game.
07:54 He's played a long time, he's seen a lot.
07:56 And he's definitely willing to share what he's seen with his teammates.
07:59 I think he does a great job in our meeting room with the quarterbacks.
08:02 I think Dorian and PJ can learn a lot from the different things that he's seen.
08:07 But anytime you've had turns at this, anytime you've played in these games,
08:12 you've played in big games.
08:13 I think that informs you and how you deal with the things that are coming at you and
08:18 they're coming at you fast now as well.
08:20 [BLANK_AUDIO]
08:24 >> Yeah, I think Stefanski gets it.
08:25 He understands what Flacco brings to the table.
08:28 It has certainly rubbed off on his teammates and
08:31 they have certainly rubbed off on him.
08:33 The fact that he continues to just talk about how he feels like a little kid and
08:37 he's just enjoying every single day and enjoying the experience.
08:40 The fact that he's been able to really just endear himself to this team so
08:44 quickly has been part of that wonderful story that we follow with him anyway.
08:48 But I do think, like I said, his presence on this team is gonna be crucial.
08:53 Down the stretch of the season here, the fact that he doesn't waver,
08:57 despite how many injuries this team's dealing with,
08:59 despite how tight a situation might be.
09:01 That's what you need to win December football games.
09:03 I think the Browns are well positioned to do that, having him here.
09:06 He came at the perfect time.
09:08 And as this team tries to overcome now more injuries, more blows to the roster,
09:13 his ability to effectively run this offense and
09:16 deliver that stability at the quarterback position is going to be key to what
09:21 the Browns do from here and where they go.
09:23 I also wanna give you a couple other injury notes.
09:25 These aren't quite as daunting as the news we talked about at the top of this
09:30 practice report, but guys who did not practice today, Jordan Elliott,
09:35 who's out with a concussion currently, running back Kareem Hunt,
09:38 who's dealing with a groin injury of his own.
09:40 We mentioned Oboe Kwonko, who could be done for the season as well.
09:43 He's got that pec injury that they're, I guess, getting a second opinion on to see
09:48 where he's at and what his status is moving forward.
09:50 But again, likely that we get news in the coming days on whether or
09:53 not his season is over.
09:54 Ethan Posick, who I did catch a video of, he walked out of sort of the interior
09:59 part of the practice facility, the field house part of the practice facility, and
10:03 was seen with the other guys who had veteran days off today.
10:06 Also Juan Thornhill, dealing with that calf injury that he suffered pre-game
10:10 before kickoff with the Jaguars.
10:12 I know that was a concerning one.
10:13 He's had some lower leg injuries to deal with already this season, but
10:17 he was not out there today as well.
10:19 But it didn't seem like it was overly serious.
10:21 He was kind of, again, with that group of veteran players who always get
10:24 their Wednesdays off, like Miles Garrett, David Njoku, Joel Batonio, etc.
10:28 So that's the latest on the injury front.
10:31 I know it's daunting.
10:32 It's been a lot.
10:33 It's been nonstop with this Browns team.
10:35 They continue to show the battle and rally from it.
10:37 And we'll see if they can continue to do that when they get ready to face the Bears
10:40 coming up on Sunday.
10:41 That's the thing.
10:43 There's no rush for the weary in the NFL despite all the injuries.
10:46 Another game looms large here in a couple days.
10:48 We are looking forward to covering it and counting you down to kick off with Chicago
10:52 on Sunday at the Cleveland Browns Stadium.
10:55 We'll do that over at BrownsDigest.com right here as well on the Browns Digest
11:00 YouTube page.
11:00 I'll be back with you tomorrow.
11:01 Another practice report for Thursday.
11:03 We'll see where the Browns are at on the injury front and who could be ready to go
11:06 and who won't be ready to go as we get you ready for that Bears game.
11:09 Again, follow along with all things Cleveland Browns over at BrownsDigest.com.
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