Browns Injury Report: Mingo and Cameron Unlikely to Play

The Cleveland Browns will have their hands full today with the New Orleans Saints. This is especially true for the defense going up against Drew Brees and that offense. Brees, like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, does a great job of reading defenses and getting rid of the ball quickly. The official Browns Injury Report isn’t due out till later but an injury to Barkevious Mingo on the defense hurts as much or maybe more than the one to Jordan Cameron for the offense. Both are unlikely to play as we sit with over 2 hours left to game time:

Mingo was impressive in Week 1 and has improved greatly since Year 1. Mike Pettine trusted Mingo to play the pass in coverage as much as he did rush the quarterback. Mingo showed that he was very capable of doing so. Mingo jamming, covering and being in zones near Jimmy Graham would help the Browns play 1 on 1 on the outside.

Thankfully for the Browns they have depth at the linebacker position. Jabaal Sheard has been a capable starter in the league for a couple years and Paul Kruger seems rejuvenated under Pettine. Rookie Christian Kirksey and fellow ILB Karlos Dansby can also play some outside. Look for Pettine to use Dansby and Kirksey underneath Graham with Donte Whitner or Tashaun Gipson over top.

That will leave Joe Haden likely on Marques Colston most of the game and Buster Skrine to lock up Week 1 rookie stud Brandin Cooks. Justin Gilbert and the rest of the secondary can then focus on the rest of the receiving corp, that Brees targets almost as often. Thankfully Brees isn’t the same QB outside of the Superdome, though he is still good. The expected noise in the stadium today could greatly help the Browns defense.

The loss of Cameron seem bigger, as he is the Browns #1 pass threat, but could be mitigated by the Browns run game and play action passing. Last week Cameron only had 2 catches, on 5 targets. One was a huge 47 yard gain while the other went for nothing. The big gainer is where he will be missed. He takes the attention of the opposing defense, opening things up for other players. While not to the same level of Graham, possibly due to QB play, the Browns receiving corp benefits from Cameron on the field. Jim Dray, Gary Barnidge and recent pickup Gerell Robinson might all get a chance to replace Cameron.

Which player would be missed more?