.png)
What I said last week goes double this week, the Browns look as bad and dysfunctional as they did at any point in the early 2000s this year.
The good news is that reinforcements might be on the way. OTs Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin have both been upgraded to questionable as I write this (it's early in the week so it's possible this changes for the worse). RB Nick Chubb is expected to open his window to return to the team this week and TE David Njoku is scheduled to do the same after missing his third straight game with an ankle injury.
That might be enough to push this team toward respectability or it might not, at this point, who knows?
This Browns team brought to you by Tums, if you're a Browns fan try out new "Party Size" tub.* Sigh
Browns (1-3) @ Commanders (3-1)
Kickoff - 1p FOX
Line - Commanders -3.5 O/u 43.5
Series - Browns 35-12-1
Last Meeting - Browns 24-10 Jan 1, 2023 in Landover, MD
Nick Chubb returning soon?
As reported on Monday of this week and mentioned above, Brown's RB Nick Chubb was designated to return from Injured Reserve and is expected to practice this week for the first time since a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. The injury required two surgeries, one to repair the ACL and one to repair the medial capsule, meniscus, and MCL. Return time for this type of injury is normally nine to twelve months.
With his return the Browns will now have 21 days to either place Chubb on the active roster or return him to the season-ending Injured Reserve list.
"I'm not gonna get too far down the road," HC Kevin Stefanski said to reporters Monday. "He's working very hard, natural progression is for him to start practicing — he's ready to do that. And then, we'll see how he goes from there. But really not focused much farther past Wednesday."
Chubb has been a vital part of Cleveland's success, rushing for over a thousand yards in each of the four years prior to last year's injury.
Browns' "D" holding the season together - for now
While the Browns as a whole haven't looked good this year, that seems to be more a function of the offense not holding up their end of things. The defense however, has, outside of the season opener been as sturdy as we hoped it to be, ranking just behind Chicago at #11 in yards allowed.
Despite that solid ranking and even contributing to the scoring (including the fumble recovery Sunday that pulled the Browns to within four points of Las Vegas) the defense hasn't quite gotten going all the way. Through four games this season, the Browns' secondary has yet to snag, tip, or otherwise pick off the opposing quarterbacks this season which feels odd for such a stout defense. Now, to be fair,
the Browns have rarely been a ball-hawking team, averaging just over 10 INTs the last four years. Between their secondary and the pass rush they've put together the last couple of years you would think that they would have gotten one given that they've played largely bad (well, I thought they were bad) teams and not great quarterbacks. Hopefully this changes against rookie Jayden Daniels this week.
On the other downside, All-World DE Myles Garrett has been fighting through issues with his feet this season, seeing his snap participation go from 76% last season to just over 67% this year and it wouldn't surprise me if those numbers continue to drop as the season goes along. I don't know what he's going through, with all the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the feet it's hard to tell; what I can tell you is that if your feet aren't right it effects everything you do. Hopefully this is something Garrett can continue to play through and take advantage of the bye week (which is still a month away) to heal a bit more.
Bits and Baubles
Browns - The Brownies have scored on their opening possession of each game this season. . .they have also failed to top 20 points in any game this season.
Commanders - RB Austin Eckler is only 62 yards away from 5,000 in his career. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels leads the NFL in completion percentage through four games this year at a sizzling 82.1%.
Injury Report
Browns
Michael Dunn - OG - OUT (Undisclosed)
James Hudson III - OT - OUT (Shoulder)
Nyheim Hines - RB - OUT (Knee)
Nick Chubb - RB - OUT (Knee)
Alex Wright - DE - OUT (Triceps - season-ending IR)
Pierre Strong Jr. - RB - Questionable (Hamstring)
Jedrick Wills Jr. - OT - Questionable (Knee)
Jack Conklin - OT - Questionable (Knee)
David Njoku - TE - Questionable (Ankle)
Commanders
Clelin Ferrell - DE - OUT (Knee)
Noah Brown - WR - OUT (Groin)
Brian Robinson Jr. - Questionable (Knee)
Fantasy Advice
With David Njoku likely to play for the first time since Week 1, look for him to be the safety valve over the middle for Watson. Expect Amari Cooper to get continue to be targeted (like it or not) regardless of what he produces.
If Brian Robinson Jr. can't go on Sunday, look for Jayden Daniels to get Austin Eckler involved in the passing game, a role he excelled at with the Chargers. Terry McLaurin has been the only Washington receiver to catch a TD from Daniels this year, I'm not sure that changes this week, but it will eventually change.
Prediction
Commanders 24-20
*The Browns are, in fact, not sponsored by Tums, nor should they be. They SHOULD be sponsored by a cheap liquor company because they make you want to drink.
Comentários