Cleveland Browns vs. Ravens: Injury report favors the Browns

The Cleveland Browns will open the home portion of the 2016 NFL schedule with a healthy roster against the Baltimore Ravens.

The final injury report is out for Sunday’s home opener and it is decidedly in favor of the Cleveland Browns.

Everyone on the roster was a full participant for the Browns, but it is another story entirely for the Ravens.

Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil is out with a foot injury, and fellow outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, although it seems unlikely that he will play after missing practice all week.

The injuries hit the Ravens depth at outside linebacker and may force them to rely on rookies Matthew Judon (13 snaps in the opener against the Buffalo Bills) and Kamalei Correa (special teams player) at some point during the game.

Although the Browns will still have to deal with Terrell Suggs, who has more career sacks (16) against the Browns than any other team.

“He is one of their very important pieces to their defensive football team because he is an emotional leader as well,” head coach Hue Jackson said. “Him being back I’m sure has given them a boost of energy, and you could see that last week in their play and in his play.”

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) reacts after his touchdown run Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Browns want to establish the run

Taking a cursory look at the box score from the season opener and it would be easy to think the Browns running game is in great shape as they averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

But since most of those yards came from either quarterback Robert Griffin III or during a final, garbage time drive, the reality is much different and something that has to change, according to running backs coach Kirby Wilson.

“We would like to get in a rhythm as a team that wants to run the football. You do that by controlling the line of scrimmage early,” Wilson said. “A runner has to be aggressive and attack the assigned hole and make sure that he has the proper reads. Coming into this ball game, that is one of the things we want to establish early is controlling the line of scrimmage and our runners being violent and physical as they attack the line of scrimmage.”

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If the Browns can get the running game working, especially on first and second down, it should help solve the third-down issues they faced last week, when the team was just two-of-10 on third down.

Cutting down on the penalties and having everyone do their job would also help.

“We have to block the guys and make sure we are running to the right looks,” guard Joel Bitonio said. “They have a good front so we are just going to have to be physical with them and really stay committed to the run game, as well. I think that kind of hurt us in the first game. We did not really get into a rhythm, and it was no one’s fault. It was just a play here, a penalty here. If we can get into a rhythm on offense, I think we have the guys that can run the ball.”

Rallying behind Josh McCown

Many fans are concerned about Josh McCown taking over at quarterback from the injured Griffin.

Just don’t count his teammates or coach among that group.

“I am super excited. Everybody is excited about Josh,” cornerback Joe Haden said. “They know what kind of leader he is. They know what kind of player he is. They know what he can do for this team. As far as Josh coming in, I am just super excited that he is still on this team. He is here to be our backup. Just knowing he is able to make all the throws, he is controlling the offense. He is a true pro.

“We feel very, very confident in Josh.”

McCown’s experience will als0 be an asset against the Ravens attacking defense.

“They are going to throw blitzes at us and he has seen 99.9 percent of the blitzes and in-game time situations,” Bitonio said. “He has started against them, and you just get a comfort I think at quarterback. Obviously, you can see new looks and different looks, but he is a guy that you feel confident going out there. That is why it was great to have him here, regardless. You never know what is going to happen with the quarterback, and unfortunately, RG went down early, but that is why you keep him here. He is here for a reason, and that is the reason. He is going to bring us confidence, he is going to do well and I have all the confidence in the world in him.”

The fact that McCown started for half a season in 2015 helps take the uncertainty out of him taking over the starting role.

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“I think it would be different if people had not seen Josh play here and he did not have the success at times that he has had here, I think it would be different,” Jackson said. “But I think we know what we are getting. I think they know what kind of leader and what type of person he is and how he prepares, and so I think the offense is excited to go out there and play with him.”

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