Browns await
results on Jedrick Wills Jr. to determine if left tackle needs rest
Akron Beacon Journal
Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (71) is carted off the field after getting injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. [Bruce Kluckhohn/Associated Press]
Browns’ second-year left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. has drawn praise from coaches and teammates for gutting through a left ankle sprain suffered in the second quarter of the season opener at Kansas City.
But Wills limped off the field with 4:29 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s 14-7 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings. On Monday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he was awaiting the results of Wills’ MRI so he and medical staff could decide if Wills needs to be shut down to allow the ankle to improve.
Wills has started every game. But he has been unable to play 100% of the offensive snaps since he was hurt, lasting for 57 (73%) against the Vikings. In Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, Wills played 70 snaps (86%); in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, he played 43 (70%).
Cleveland Browns tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. takes a break on the sideline during NFL football training camp, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Akron Beacon Journal]
“We’ll see how he is with this ankle and how he does throughout the week,” Stefanski said of Wills.
Asked specifically about sitting Wills, Stefanski said, “We make these decisions daily; we make these decisions with the information available to us. It was unfortunate that he got his ankle caught there, but everything’s on the table there.”
Unlike in the previous two home games against the Texans and Bears when Blake Hance replaced Wills, this time rookie James Hudson III, a fourth-round pick from the University of Cincinnati, took over. Hudson played 21 snaps (27%).
“I think he was OK. He had a false start penalty there,” Stefanski said of Hudson. “He’s getting better. He’s somebody that we get a good look at him at practice … That’s part of Jed being out. Some of these practices have given him an opportunity to get some really good reps. I think he’s progressing and working really hard.”
Minnesota Vikings Cameron Dantzler tests positive for COVID-19
Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive, per the Vikings’ Twitter account. Against the Browns, Dantzler played 72 (92%) of the defensive snaps and three more on special teams.
Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney pressures Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins as he throws a pass during the first half, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. [Bruce Kluckhohn/Associated Press]
Cleveland Browns defense added players-only session on Thursdays
The Browns have given up 13 points in the past two games and their 266 rushing yards is the fewest the team has allowed in the first four weeks of a season.
Defensive tackle Malik Jackson attributed the improvement in the pass defense to a 15- to 20-minute players-only session on Thursdays that defensive end Myles Garrett and linebacker Malcolm Smith instituted after Week 1. The emphasis of Thursday practices is pass rush.
“Twenty minutes before special teams we go watch film on third downs and what we did as a whole defense so we all can talk and really get together,” Jackson said. “I think [Garrett and Smith] doing that really brought a lot of understanding so we’re all in there calling plays, watching the same plays. Coach Woods gives us a card and Malcolm calls the plays and the safeties are calling things, the ‘backers are calling things, I’m calling things with the D-line so we all can visually sit there together and picture success.
“We just run through stuff … we all just get on the same page.”
Jackson said the Browns have been consistent against the run and “everybody understands their job on that.”
“Just pass rush. Being in a safe place with no coaches we can really ask questions with each other and since we’re together, just talk it out,” Jackson said. “I’m sure it will be a staple in what we do.”
Myles Garrett has ‘something special’ for Browns coach Kevin Stefanski
Before he was hired in 2020 and was honored as NFL Coach of the Year in his rookie season, Stefanski spent the previous 14 years with the Vikings. He downplayed his homecoming leading up to and after Sunday’s game.
In an on-field postgame interview with NFL Network, Garrett was asked about how much the victory meant to Stefanski.
“Man, hey, when we go in, I’m definitely going to ask him. I know his answer will be like, ‘This one matters just as much as the other ones. It’s just a win. It’s just another week,”’ Garrett told Tom Pelissero. “I know he loves it, but I have something special for him when we get back to the facility.”
Free safety John Johnson III said Garrett had not tipped him off to the surprise.
Asked if Garrett had told him, Johnson said, “No, he didn’t. I’m looking forward to it. Did it happen already? Do you know?”
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on challenge decisions
CBS announcers Kevin Harlan and Trent Green thought there was enough visual evidence for Stefanski to challenge the spot on Baker Mayfield’s third-down sideline run and dive in the third quarter that came up one yard short. Mayfield stretched to advance the ball in hope of making the first down. On fourth down, Hudson was called for a false start, forcing the Browns to punt.
“I don’t necessarily know the rules on spotting it, but I thought I was a little bit closer than the spot was,” Mayfield said Sunday. “Obviously, got to be better on the fourth down, the false start when we’re fourth and short. Situationally, that wasn’t our best. Yeah, thought it was a little bit closer, but no idea.”
Stefanski said Monday the Browns looked at the play, but didn’t have a great replay available before he had to to throw the challenge flag.
Stefanski had already used a challenge in the second quarter on Kirk Cousins’ 20-yard completion to K.J. Osborn when the receiver clearly had both feet inbounds.
“Did not have a great replay on that. Just felt like it was a big enough play and losing a timeout in the first half was not as concerned about that,” Stefanski said. “It was very clear shortly thereafter that [Osborn] was in.”
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. [Jim Mone/Associated Press]
Expectations of a high-scoring game prompted Cleveland Browns’ fourth-down decision
Observers debated Stefanski’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the Vikings 6 with 14:54 left in the second quarter and the Browns trailing 7-0. The Browns’ opening drive ended when Mayfield was sacked for an 11-yard loss.
“I think 14-7 was not how we thought it would play out,” Stefanski said. “Points are a premium, but we felt like we had to score touchdowns in that game. That adjusts throughout the game as you get more information. Really, it adjusts by game, as well.”
Cleveland Browns unsure if Anthony Walker Jr. is coming off injured reserve
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. has missed three consecutive games and is eligible to come off injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in practice on Sept. 16. But Stefanski said he wasn’t sure whether Walker would return on Wednesday when the Browns begin preparations for Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“We’ll see it how goes,” Stefanski said.
Signed as a free agent from the Indianapolis Colts, Walker called the defensive signals at Kansas City. In his absence, 10-year-veteran Smith has taken over that role.
Cleveland Browns sign receiver Lawrence Cager to practice squad
Receiver Lawrence Cager, a second-year player who spe
nt time with the New York Jets in 2020, was signed to the practice squad.
Leave a Reply