The Cleveland Browns opened their preparation for Pittsburgh on Wednesday with a new player on their pre-practice injury report.
The team announced that defensive end Jared Verse will open the week as a nonparticipant as he works through a knee injury he picked up during Sunday’s win over the Tennessee Titans.
When asked about Verse potentially missing this week’s big divisional road game against the Steelers, head coach Todd Monken expressed optimism.
“I don’t anticipate that,” he said. “Just a little bit of swelling, and we just thought it would be good to just keep him off of it.”
The Browns were also without right tackle Tytus Howard (concussion) and center Elgton Jenkins (knee) on Wednesday.
Jared Verse's knee injury appears minor as Browns get encouraging news to open Steelers week
Considering the laundry list of players on Cleveland’s injury report in recent weeks, Wednesday’s update from Monken was positive. The Browns were actually expected to be without defensive back Myles Harden (hamstring) as well, per the team, but reporters spotted the defensive back warming up on the practice field following Monken’s presser.
Jenkins’ absence is likely more veteran maintenance than anything. He played all 70 offensive snaps against the Titans last week, per Pro Football Focus.
Howard feels like the only real wild-card right now, as he left Sunday’s game early with a head injury and remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Both KC Concepcion and Grant Delpit were able to work through the protocol and return the following week this season; both players logged at least a limited practice session by Thursday, though.
The Browns have a capable backup in Dawand Jones to play right tackle if Howard needs an extra week to recover.
On a positive note, Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, and Delpit were all on the practice field to begin a big week of prep for the Steelers. Harden, Graham, and Delpit all missed snaps against the Titans due to injuries but were able to return to the game to help the team finish its 27-24 win in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland hasn’t won a regular-season game at Pittsburgh since 2003, a streak of 22 consecutive losses. Monken told reporters that he hasn’t spoken with the team about ending that drought.
The Browns potentially having their healthiest lineup in weeks could certainly help that cause.
"It has nothing to do with our team this year,” Monken said. “It's a divisional game. What matters is what we do today, how we practice today and how we prepare today for any opponent. It's bigger because it's a divisional opponent."
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