The Cleveland Browns head coach, Kevin Stefanski, announced Thursday that cornerback Denzel Ward has suffered a knee injury during practice, adding to yet another setback for the Browns.
As the team prepares for the Super Wild Card Weekend playoff game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Ward's appearance comes into question. The cornerback's potential absence could pose a significant challenge for the Browns, particularly against the Texans with C.J. Stroud and a strong passing offense.
Ward, a three-time Pro Bowl selection in his six NFL seasons, is considered the ideal matchup for Texans wide receiver Nico Collins in terms of size and physicality. With Ward potentially sidelined, the Browns might be at a disadvantage defending against one of the season's top receivers.
This setback adds to Ward's injury-riddled season, having already missed three games. He sat out Week 18 to be fit for the playoffs, along with other starters. However, his participation now remains uncertain due to the recent knee injury.
Browns’ tally of injuries
The Browns have been grappling with a barrage of injuries throughout the season, impacting crucial positions on both sides of the ball. Adding to the Browns' injury concerns, running back Pierre Strong Jr. is out due to a back problem.
Strong sustained a hit during the Browns' Week 18 clash with the Bengals in the fourth quarter, sidelining him for the rest of the game. His absence from Tuesday's practice and limited participation on Wednesday raises uncertainty about his availability for the crucial playoff matchup.
Notable players such as Mike Ford, Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, Rodney McLeod, Grant Delpit, Dustin Hopkins, Maurice Hurst, Anthony Walker and Jakeem Grant have all faced injury setbacks.
The injury report also featured a host of prominent names, including Amari Cooper, Joel Bitonio, David Njoku, Greg Newsome, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Juan Thornhill, Ethan Pocic, Cedric Tillman, Kareem Hunt, Corey Bojorquez, Myles Garrett and several more, with various players either not practicing or limited participants at different points this week.
Cleveland vs. Houston prediction
Despite the setbacks, the latest odds for the Texans vs. the Browns showdown positions Cleveland as a 2.5-point favorite. The highly anticipated game is scheduled for a Saturday kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET in Houston.
Quarterback Joe Flacco, a seasoned player with a playoff record of 10-5, has an impressive 11-4 record against the spread and has covered seven consecutive games. The 38-year-old was named MVP after the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII triumph. He led the NFL with 1,616 passing yards from Weeks 13-17, showcasing his prowess before taking a break last weekend.
Flacco's return has notably energized key offensive players, including Cooper and Njoku. During Weeks 13-17, Njoku led NFL tight ends with 390 receiving yards, while Cooper ranked third among all pass-catchers with 485.
The Browns, holding a commendable 10-6-1 ATS record in 2023, have shown resilience throughout the season despite overcoming significant injuries. This tenacity is attributed, in part, to them having one of the NFL's top defenses.
The defensive unit allows the fewest yards per game at 270.2 and the second-fewest per play at 4.8. Myles Garrett, leading the race for Defensive Player of the Year, has showcased dominance with 14 sacks and four forced fumbles.
The Browns also take pride in possessing the league's top-ranked defense. The team yielded a mere 164.7 yards per game and is tied for third spot in the league in terms of defensive interceptions, accumulating 18 so far.