Daily Dawg Tags: Injuries nipping at the roster
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns are slowly starting to feel the pain of injuries as both Ed Reynolds and Caleb Brantley will miss practice time.
The Cleveland Browns will have their first break of training camp today as the team will not hold practice.
The scheduled day off comes at a good time as injuries are starting to find their way onto the roster.
Over the weekend safety Ed Reynolds suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for an unspecified amount of time. On Monday, head coach Hue Jackson revealed that rookie defensive lineman Caleb Brantley had suffered a broken finger that required surgery and is expected to miss a few weeks.
In the grand scheme those injuries are not major, but they still hurt. Reynolds made seven starts for the Browns last season and was in the mix for a roster spot again this season. If he is out for an extended period, his roster spot is far from certain.
As for Brantley, he may have been facing an uphill battle even before the injury. The defensive tackle position is a crowded one, and Brantley was far from a lock to make the final roster due to his inconsistent effort. Missing even a few weeks could make it even more likely that he will be a candidate to open the season on the practice squad.
Injuries are part of the game and, for the most part, the Browns have been fortunate through the opening days of training camp. Hopefully that good fortune continues in the weeks to come.
Cleveland Browns news:
Duke Johnson’s versatility an asset to the offense
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Kenny Britt is all in on DeShone Kizer – sort of
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As training camp commences, one of the most intriguing position battles for the Cleveland Browns is at the quarterback position. The following is an argument for Cody Kessler to start if he impresses at camp.
Starting job Derrick Kindred’s to lose (ohio.com)
"Derrick Kindred has a clear path to starting at free safety for the Browns. Unless you ask Kindred."
John Greco is back and ready to compete (cleveland.com)
"Browns offensive lineman John Greco saw his 2016 season end after Lisfranc surgery and, to make things worse, he watched his team spend big money on a player in Kevin Zeitler who plays his position — right guard."
NFL news:
Andrew Luck needs to be selfish (Indianapolis Star)
"Andrew Luck isn’t very good at being selfish. On the football field, I’m saying. Off the field, who knows? He could be the guy who doesn’t pause before taking the last piece of pizza. Probably is that guy, come to think of it. Look at that face. Would you trust him with a box of pizza? Me neither. But on the field …"
Can the Cowboys get by early if Ezekiel Elliott is suspended? (Washington Post)
"The rise of the Dallas Cowboys last season came thanks in large part to the exploits of their prized rookies, quarterback Dak Prescott and tailback Ezekiel Elliott. And the team’s hopes to take things a step further this season, reaching — and perhaps winning — a Super Bowl, are pinned to the belief that Prescott and Elliott are built-to-last superstars who will provide a suitably spectacular Year 2 encore. So what happens if the Cowboys are forced to open the season without Elliott?"
5 NFL teams most likely to decline in 2017 (ESPN)
"To figure out what’s likely to happen in 2017, we have to take a step back and look at what really went down in 2016. There are several underlying metrics that have historically been effective in projecting whether teams are likely to improve or decline in the upcoming season. The games aren’t played on paper, but the paper can tell us a lot before the games even begin."
Most QBs Have Great Training Camps. These Ones Aren’t. (The Ringer)
"One of the beautiful things about NFL training camp is the impenetrable optimism. Last season’s blemishes are whitewashed while this season’s potential is lauded. And without the pressure of the regular season, we get to see the human side of teams, like John Harbaugh learning German or Antonio Brown living life like he’s in a Grey Poupon commercial. All 32 teams have convinced themselves that they’ll get one of the 12 playoff spots. Basically, every team feels like Channing Tatum in this video, even if most teams will end up feeling like Jonah Hill."