Denzel Ward in concussion protocol as Browns begin work week for Bengals
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
The advent of the real season generally brings a clampdown on insight from the head coach – no matter the team. The first day of the Browns’ work week for the Cincinnati Bengals followed script.
Here is the official transcript exchange of Q & A with coach Kevin Stefanski about the most relevant issue of the moment on the Browns – the availability of cornerback Denzel Ward. Ward remained in concussion protocol and not on the field when the team returned to practice on Monday.
Q: Any update on Denzel?
A: “No update. No. Going through the protocol.”
Q: When you go into a week and you don't have your number one corner when you're going up against Joe Burrow [and Company], what does it do to your preparation?
A: “Well, I mean, I'd say Denzel's in the protocol. We just got to work through that to see how it goes. We know what type of challenge this is. It's a huge challenge. They've got great players, really good coaches. We know what you're getting into.”
Q: “With the changes you had at cornerback, claiming [Kahlef Hailassie, and demoting A.J. Green to the practice squad], who would be your third cornerback?
A: “We have a bunch of guys that have options. Or we have options there with a bunch of guys that can play inside and outside. So we'll work through that this week if necessary.”
Ward was a surprise starter in the Browns’ preseason finale in Kansas City on August 26. He made a tackle of Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco on the fourth defensive play of the game. Ward stayed in and played all 15 snaps with the Browns’ No. 1 defense. The Browns never mentioned an injury to Ward during in-game press box updates. Stefanski said after the game that Ward was in concussion protocol.
In a subsequent appearance at the medium podium on Monday, safety Rodney McLeod said this about Ward:
“I think we’re encouraged that he’ll be available for us. So we’re allowing Denzel to take the time necessary … doctors to do their job … and hoping that he’s there when we need him. When he’s on the field, he’s a weapon for us. Somebody who we need come Sunday in order for us to have great success. But if he’s not, it’s next man up. We hold everybody to the same standard and expect the same results.”
The Burrow factor
Much will be made this week of the Browns’ record against Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow is 1-4 against the Browns with a 91.5 passer rating. Against the rest of the NFL, Burrow is 23-13-1 with a passer rating of 101.9.
McLeod is not only new to the Browns, he’s relatively new to playing against Burrow. McLeod has played only one game against Burrow – in 2020, Burrow’s rookie season, and it was a 23-23 tie. Burrow passed for 312 yards and two touchdowns against Jim Schwartz’s Philadelphia defense.
McLeod said he has used some of the down time in these weeks leading up to the opener to personally view previous games of Burrow against the Browns.
“We’ve had a few extra days to be able to get a head start, prepare and that's the good part about week one,” he said. “There's days and it's up to you. Whoever takes advantage of those days normally comes out good on the other side. So been looking at a lot of film -- us versus last year, their previous games that they've done well, games that they struggled in -- just trying to get anything possible enough for us to win.”
I asked McLeod why he thinks the Browns have had the edge over Burrow in five meetings.
“I think it's just about being in the division,” he said. “When you have a division opponent, you understand exactly who they are. You see them twice a year. And so in my history in this league, I tend to see a lot of division opponents do fairly well versus each other and so it's going to be a good challenge for us. It's a new team on both sides. We all have new additions. No team is ever the same. And so whoever comes out there week one, we'll make sure we take care of business.”
Burrow has said the difference between the Browns and all other opponents has been Myles Garrett.
In five games against Burrow, Garrett has 8 sacks for 68 yards in losses, and has forced two fumbles.
Most of those sacks came against Bengals left tackle Jonah Williams. The biggest acquisition the Bengals made this offseason was for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who left the Chiefs in free agency. The Bengals have moved Williams to right tackle. So Garrett likely will battle Brown and Za’Darius Smith will go against Williams.
On this subject, Stefanski said, “Well, we played against both those guys, so we know those guys obviously moving Jonah over there to the right side. We'll work through what that means for us. And those are good football players. I mean, they added good football players, which is no surprise. They definitely bolstered what they're doing. So we have to be about our business.”
The Browns' revamped QB room practice for the first time together -- Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker. (TheLandOnDemand)
Brownie bits
The only other regular player not at practice was kicker Dustin Hopkins. Stefanski simply said, without elaboration, “He’ll be here tomorrow.” …
Quarterback P.J. Walker, an addition to the Browns practice squad, made his first appearance with the team. He’s wearing No. 10 …
New defensive tackle Shelby Harris has taken No. 93 and discarded No. 97.
