3 under the radar Cleveland Browns who need to shine in Week 13

Chad Thomas

In the absence of defensive megastar Myles Garrett, second-year defensive end Chad Thomas has played better than many expected. The Miami product didn’t make much of an impact his rookie year. In fact, he barely saw the field as a third-round pick, and didn’t record a single sack or tackle.

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Many were ready to accept that Thomas would never get on the field for meaningful playing time, or that he would rather focus on his music career under the stage name Major Nine.

2019 has been a much different tune for the musical talent turned football player. Against the Miami Dolphins in Week 12, Thomas recorded five total tackles. The week before that, at home against the Steelers, he had three tackles and a sack on Mason Rudolph in limited playing time. Depending on which quarterback the Steelers trot out in Week 13, Thomas might be able to see Rudolph again this Sunday.

Chad Thomas’s production has been a blessing for the Browns with the suspensions of Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi, and the injury to Olivier Vernon. Thomas and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson held down a depleted defensive line for Cleveland in Week 12, and they should be able to continue when Ogunjobi and Vernon come back for Cleveland’s second Pittsburgh matchup.