The Cleveland Browns were dealt a tough break as starting center Elgton Jenkins suffered a concussion that will cost him Week 4. With rookie Parker Brailsford missing most of training camp and just getting up to speed, it'll be Luke Wypler starting on Thursday night.
Fortunately, it's not all bad news for Todd Monken's team. The secondary will get a major boost, with Tyson Campbell back in action. The Browns' veteran missed Week 3 with a knee injury, but he did not carry a designation on the team's final injury report.
Given that the Browns last played just four days ago, it feels like they were saving their cornerback for this divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His injury may not have been super serious, and they wanted to give him additional rest so he could be at his best in prime-time.
Week 4 Primer: How to watch Browns vs. Steelers, injury news, top storylines, prediction, and more!
The Browns had this Steelers game circled on their calendar
The Browns did just fine in Campbell's absence, holding Bryce Young to one passing touchdown and one interception, though the NFL's passing yards leader did throw for 291 yards. Denzel Ward had Tetairoa McMillan blanketed, shadowing him more often than he usually does with star wide receivers.
That doesn't mean this team can just get by without Campbell. He's been a perfect fit since the early-season trade that brought him to Cleveland from Jacksonville in 2025, and as well as Mekhi Blackmon played in Week 3, he fits best as a backup.
The Steelers aren't necessarily an offensive powerhouse, but they gave Aaron Rodgers more weapons this season by adding Michael Pittman Jr. opposite DK Metcalf and giving Roman Wilson a bigger role.
Campbell has given up six catches on eight targets this season, but he has yet to allow a touchdown in coverage. He's also a more physical player than Ward, making him crucial against jumbo receivers like Pittman and Metcalf.
The fact that the Browns planned ahead for this game instead of going all-in to beat the Panthers also adds another layer of excitement to this matchup. Divisional games are always crucial, and making a statement in prime time should certainly help flip the narrative around Monken's team.
The Browns have historically owned Thursday Night Football when at home, going 9-1 in such settings. They're riding a seven-game winning streak on TNF, and they have never lost to the Steelers at home on Thursday night (4-0).
This team has been far from perfect, especially in the first half of games, and not having the starting center out there will probably lead to more pre-snap issues. That said, they have an opportunity to go to bed with a 3-1 record and the top spot in the division, and having Campbell back on the field will push them closer to that goal.
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