Browns Friday injury report: Defense takes a hit
By Thomas Moore
Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; The Cleveland Browns special teams players line up for the opening kickoff against the Oakland Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns have released their final injury report for Sunday’s game against San Diego and the defense looks like it will be missing some key players.
Of the 14 players on the list, eight of them are on the defensive side of the ball, with defensive lineman Desmond Bryant, linebacker Craig Robertson and cornerback K’Waun Williams all listed as out for the game against the Chargers. In addition, safety Tashaun Gipson is listed as questionable.
Head coach Mike Pettine tried to downplay how much Bryant missing the game will impact the defensive line, employing his “next man up” philosophy.
“I wouldn’t say it is significant, but it is a loss (not to have Bryant),” Pettine said on Friday. “It is a good opportunity for Xavier Cooper, who did some good things in his first game. Anytime you lose a guy of Des’ quality the rest of the room feels that responsibility and has to step up.”
Pettine was a wee bit less optimistic about the impact of losing another starting linebacker.
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“It will have some effect. Some of it is a trickle down to special teams,” Pettine explained. “Tank Carder is a guy that if he gets out there we are confident he will be productive. He has shown no reason to think otherwise. He is one of the better – makes a lot of plays on scout team. I know he drives our offensive guys crazy because he makes a lot of plays then.
“He had a good spring for us, good training camp and Tank is a guy I feel like could play for a lot of teams and play a lot of quality reps at linebacker for a lot of teams in this league. We do feel good about our depth there.”
Joe Haden also said that there is no room for excuses.
“We have to just go. We’re out there so you have to be able to make plays,” Haden said. “Everybody’s hurt, all over the league you have injuries. You’re never going to just go into the game completely healthy but we just know we have to fight. We have to do whatever we have to do to get this win.”
The full injury report for the Browns includes the following players:
Probable: Travis Benjamin (ribs), Karlos Dansby (ankle), Justin Gilbert (hamstring), Joe Haden (ribs/finger), Johnny Manziel (elbow), Josh McCown (hand) and Mitchell Schwartz (thumb).
Questionable: Shaun Draughn (back) and Tashaun Gipson (groin).
Out: Desmond Bryant (shoulder), Craig Robertson (ankle), Scott Solomon (ankle), Robert Turbin (ankle) and K’Waun Wiliams (concussion).
Probable = virtual certainty player will be available for normal duties. Questionable = 50% chance player will not play; Doubtful = at least 75% chance player will not play; Out = will not play.