(Associated Press)
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Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Four downs on Browns (7-3) v. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)
First down: War of attrition.
In a normal NFL season, this is the time of year injuries pile up and rosters are stretched thin. In this fragile year of the pandemic, NFL teams also are feeling a spike in Covid-19 positive tests and the repercussions of contact tracing. The result is the playoff chase has become even more of a survival test as teams try to make it to the finish line in some semblance of their real teams. The Browns have done better than most in keeping their roster relatively intact. But on Sunday they’ll be without the following players: defensive end Myles Garrett (Covid), defensive end Porter Gustin (Covid), defensive end Joe Jackson (Covid), fullback Andy Janovich (Covid), linebacker Sione Takitaki (Covid), cornerback Denzel Ward (calf) and safety Sheldrick Redwine (knee). The Jaguars will be without receiver D.J. Chark (ribs), receiver Chris Conley (hip), cornerback Sidney Jones (Achilles), defensive end Aaron Lynch (shoulder), left guard Andrew Norwell (shoulder) and kicker Chase McLaughlin (Covid). Further, Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash, plus two defensive assistant coaches, will miss the game because of Covid protocols. At the start of training camp, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski coined the phrase “embrace the suck” to condition his team to deal with what lay ahead. I’m not sure he realized fully how appropriate that phrase would be.
Second down: The circle of a quarterback's life.
In 2017, Mike Glennon was replaced as quarterback of the Chicago Bears by Mitch Trubisky. In 2020, Trubisky was replaced by Nick Foles. In 2019, Foles was replaced with the Jacksonville Jaguars by Gardner Minshew, who was replaced four weeks ago by Jake Luton, who now is replaced by … Mike Glennon. The Jaguars are Glennon’s fifth team in five years, following stints with the Raiders, Cardinals, Bears and Buccaneers. He has not appeared in a game this year and has attempted only 31 passes since the 2017 season. Coach Doug Marrone admitted this week he has no idea what to expect from Glennon. “I do not know. I have never been with him before in a game,” Marrone said. “Mike has a lot of experience. We all know he has a good arm. I am looking to see him go out there and see if he can help us offensively with the people that we have around him. Really other than that without any preseason games or things like that to go by, it is tough to tell.” For his part, Glennon, 30, said, “I have nothing to lose. I mean I haven’t been the starter in three years. I don’t know when this opportunity’s going to come again. I’m just going to go out there, have fun, let it rip, and see what happens.” Glennon measured 6-7 1/8 at the 2013 NFL combine, making him 1/4-inch taller than Brock Osweiler, who was 6-6 7/8 at the 2012 combine). Unofficially, Glennon is the second-tallest quarterback to play in the NFL, topped only by 6-8 Dan McGwire of the Seahawks.
Third down: Sunshine and rainbows.
Forecasts for Jacksonville call for a high of 75 degrees, some clouds, and a 20 percent chance of rain. If that’s the worst, it would be infinitely better than what the Browns have played in over the past three games in Cleveland. Most everybody on the team expressed relief in escaping the high winds, cold, wet, hail and grauple it plowed through in a 2-1 stretch against the Raiders, Texans and Eagles. But nobody may welcome the sunshine more than Jarvis Landry. The native of Louisiana, who spent his first four seasons in Miami, is slogging through his worst year, statistically, in seven years in the NFL. The struggle began with major hip surgery in February, a difficult rehab process through the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, an arduous race to be ready for the season opener to continue his consecutive games streak, and then a broken rib suffered in Game 5 against the Colts and recurring hits in the area in the next two games. Landry had his second-fewest offensive snaps of the season in last week’s victory over the Eagles. Still without a touchdown this season, Landry, who turned 28 on Saturday, expressed optimism that things are looking brighter for him. “My body is definitely in a better place this week. I would definitely say I had one of the best weeks practicing that I have had so far,” he said.
Fourth down: Tide turning.
Not too long ago, players considered it a sentence to gloom and doom if traded to the losing Browns. Another sign of their culture changing is the attitude of safety Ronnie Harrison, who was traded from the Jaguars in September and considers it a career-saving move for him. Harrison has become a consistent maker of plays since breaking the starting lineup at strong safety in Game 5 against the Colts. In essentially six games, Harrison has risen to ninth on the team in tackles, and has produced one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and six passes defensed (third on the defense). Harrison missed one game with a concussion and left the Eagles game in the first half with a knee injury, but was able to practice all week. “I knew I was still going to try to come back for this game,” Harrison said. “I already circled this one on the calendar. I am very excited. This is a great opportunity to show what I have with my new team.” Harrison said he was “heartbroken” when he learned of the trade because all he knew about Cleveland was cold weather. But now? “God had his hand on this one,” he said. “It has been great. I could not even imagine a better place or a better fit for me. I feel comfortable, and I like it here.”
Prediction: Browns 34, Jaguars 20.
My record: 6-4.