4 Reasons the Cleveland Browns will beat the Bengals in Week 7
By Greg Newland
3. Another week to get healthy
Each week it feels like the Browns injury report spreads onto a second page. Injuries have been brutal throughout the NFL, and the Browns are no exception. Both starting safeties, Karl Joseph and Ronnie Harrison missed last week as well as rookie linebacker Jacob Phillips who would be seeing the field on most defensive snaps.
Not to mention starting cornerback Greedy Williams has yet to play a snap in 2020 and starting linebacker Mack Wilson appears to be a step behind because of a knee injury. Both Olivier Vernon and Adrian Clayborn have missed time at the defensive end spot as well.
Perhaps the most noticeable injury vs. the Steelers was right guard Teller who was performing at an all-pro level through the first four weeks. He missed most of the Colts and all the Steelers game with a calf strain, and the team is dying to get him back for the Steelers. Teller has been fantastic pulling to the left side of the line and opening gaping holes.
If the Browns can get Teller, Harrison, and Joseph back for the Bengals the entire playbook will be open on both sides of the ball. Stefanski has run a much more vanilla run scheme without Teller, and defensive coordinator Joe Woods has continued to only rush four with no confidence in the unit’s coverage skills.