Browns vs. Falcons: 3 players to watch in Week 4
By Kyler Blasing
The Cleveland Browns are heading to Atlanta for their Week 4 matchup against the Falcons. Here are 3 big storylines surrounding the team as we approach Sunday.
After the Week 2 collapse against the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns bounced back last week with a complete win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the win came with some negatives, as there were injuries to key players on both sides of the ball.
Following a wildly eventful offseason, the Browns have had no shortage of drama through the first three weeks of the season. They will look to become 3-1 and possibly gain sole leadership of the AFC North in Week 4. These are three players to keep an eye on this Sunday.
3 Big Storylines Heading Into Week 4
3. Can Jacob Phillips replace Anthony Walker Jr.?
At a time when the Browns needed as many defensive playmakers on the field as possible, they, unfortunately, lost one of their best ones for the season. Anthony Walker Jr. tore his quadriceps tendon in the Week 3 matchup against the Steelers, and he will be lost for the season.
The linebacker corps already lacked depth, so the Browns may be forced to look at free agency in order to strengthen the position. For now, Jacob Phillips will be asked to step in at the MIKE position for Walker and play a majority of the snaps.
Phillips has shined at times when asked to step in at linebacker but has struggled to show consistency or stay healthy in the first two seasons of his career. He impressed in the place of Walker in Week 3, recording a team-high seven tackles, as well as a key sack in the fourth quarter. Phillips will look to build on that performance in Week 4 and prove why he should be heading the middle of this Browns defense.