Browns: Isaiah Crowell, Caleb Brantley among those to miss Giants’ game
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns will be without Isaiah Crowell and some players fight for a roster spot in tonight’s game against the New York Giants.
The Cleveland Browns released the list of players who are expected to miss tonight’s preseason game against the New York Giants, and it doesn’t look good for a couple of players working to find a spot on the final roster.
While we already knew that starting left guard Joel Bitonio and starting defensive tackle Danny Shelton were not playing tonight, the list released on the team’s website shows starting running back Isaiah Crowell will not play due to a groin injury.
With Crowell out, Duke Johnson moves into the starter’s role and it also opens up additional opportunities for rookie running back Matthew Dayes to get some significant time in the backfield.
Related: What to watch for against the Giants
On the defensive side, Shelton’s absence should have provided rookie Caleb Brantley with a nice chance to show what he can do. But after missing the opening preseason game with a finger injury, Brantley is out tonight with a shoulder injury.
Staying on the defensive line, defensive end Nate Orchard, currently sitting third on the unofficial depth chart behind Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib, is out with a groin injury.
Orchard needs a solid camp if he hopes to make the roster, and he was active last week while facing the backups of the New Orleans Saints. But he’s out tonight, and with the next preseason game coming up Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there may not be enough time for him to be ready to for that game either.
Making a small impact in the first preseason game, and potentially missing the next two, is no way to go about making the team.
Next: Browns vs. Giants: TV, radio info
Brock Osweiler is still scheduled to start at quarterback, with DeShone Kizer coming in second at the position. How long that lasts with rookie Rod Johnson manning the left tackle position remains to be seen, however.