A minor knee injury in the final practice of the week resulted in cornerback Denzel Ward being listed questionable for the Houston game. (Cleveland Browns)
One new injury – of course – as Browns end preparations for wild-card game
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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 …
Even though the Browns have shown amazing resilience during a season of injuries, at this point any fluctuation in the injury report sends shudders through their fan base.
Thus it was the news of the day when cornerback Denzel Ward suffered a minor knee injury on the last practice before the team departed for Houston. The Browns wrapped up preparations for their wild card game against the Texans with an indoor session that lasted less than an hour.
Ward was listed on the final injury report of the week as questionable.
“Just something with his knee. He was limited,” coach Kevin Stefanski said.
In worst-case scenario, Ward would be replaced on the outside by Greg Newsome, which would force somebody to take Newsome’s place as the nickel back in three-receiver formations.
The backup nickel back spot has been shared by Mike Ford and Cameron Mitchell. Ford has been limited with a calf injury and also was listed as questionable.
“It’s a lot of emotions that go through my mind," Newsome said. “He’s our leader, he’s one of arguably the best cornerbacks in the league. So it's definitely tough, but I know Denzel’s a trooper and he’s a fighter, so if he's able to go, he'll be ready to go. Everybody’s dealing with something at this point.”
Delpit getting closer
After getting on the practice field for the first time since groin surgery four weeks ago, safety Grant Delpit was ruled out for the Houston game. It was not unexpected.
Delpit said, “Of course I wanted to play. I’ve been working my tail to get back. The rehab was tough. It was an injury I hadn’t experienced before. I’m trying to get back as soon as possible.”
On Wednesday, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz noted the work Delpit has put in to get back on the practice field and called him “a driven dude.”
“I think if you’re not driven to come back, then what are you here for. This is the playoffs,” Delpit said. “I have yet to play in a playoff game in my whole career here. So that’s all the inspiration I need.”
Delpit missed the entire 2020 season with an Achilles rupture injury and was not available when the Browns reached the playoffs that year.
O-line’s secret sauce
The Browns enter the playoffs with a 38-year-old quarterback being protected by an offensive line functioning well with a second left tackle (Geron Christian) and a third right tackle (James Hudson).
So what’s the secret?
Scott Peters, assistant offensive line coach, explained, “I think with [offensive line] coach [Bill] Callahan, he's always said there are no backups in the league. There's no backups because everybody is going to play. That was something that he said to the group from day one.
“And so even if you’re a guy that's maybe on the practice squad or you’re in a role that you're not getting the reps, you have to lock in mentally. So I think that's always been emphasized. They’re talked to the same. They’re treated the same in every way in terms of what they have to do from a skill set perspective. So I think that mindset going into the season has been beneficial because now it's like, hey, we weren't just talking. This is how it goes sometimes. And that's true across the league, obviously, with injuries, but it's even more true now that the guys experience it.
“But the good thing is, I think with that adversity at least, there’s always been a level of preparation going on with the guys that weren’t in the starting role.”
Brownie bits
Receiver Amari Cooper was a full go at practice for the first time since suffering a heel injury in the December 24 game in Houston and was removed from the injury report …
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (left hamstring) and receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) officially were ruled out …
Edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo said his pectoral muscle injury is feeling better than a week ago. He was on the field for 11 snaps in the Cincinnati game, was able to wrap up and make a tackle on a run play, and the expectation is he’ll receive closer to his normal allotment of snaps in Houston. “It depends on how he feels [the day of the game],” Stefanski said …
In a morning appearance in front of media, Peters said the Browns are expecting Houston edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson to play. Sure enough, the pair practiced for the first time all week. Both were limited, however. Greenard’s been out since suffering an ankle injury in the December 24 game.
