The Cleveland Browns listed a pair of important defensive starters as questionable for their Week 3 home opener against the Carolina Panthers in safety Grant Delpit and cornerback Tyson Campbell. They could ill-afford to lose either player for a matchup against one of the NFL’s highest-scoring offenses through two weeks.
Hours before Sunday’s kickoff, we got our verdict. Delpit will attempt to play through his shoulder injury, as he told reporters after Friday’s practice.
Campbell, however, has been ruled out, the team announced, leaving the Browns extremely thin on the boundary against Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Carolina’s dangerous passing attack.
Cleveland Browns inactives for Week 3 vs. Carolina Panthers
- Taylen Green, QB (emergency QB3 designation)
- Justin Jefferson, LB
- Parker Brailsford, C
- Teven Jenkins, RG
- Tyson Campbell, CB
With both Jenkins (back) and Campbell (hip, ankle) ruled out, the Browns’ biggest decision against Carolina boiled down to depth defensive backs and special teams.
The decision not to call a player up from the practice squad on Saturday means multiple Browns will make their season debuts on Sunday.
Rookie CB Toriano Pride Jr. set to play his first NFL snaps
The Browns claimed Pride, a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills this year, on waivers ahead of the season. It was a curious move at the time, as training camp standout Michael Coats Jr. and others wound up getting waived or signed back to the practice squad.
Pride will get the nod as cornerback and special teams depth along with veteran Noah Igbinoghene. Mekhi Blackmon is in line to start his first game as a Brown as the main boundary corner opposite Denzel Ward.
Igbinoghene was active for his first game since signing with Cleveland in Week 2, and he wasn’t exactly a value-add. He logged eight shaky snaps as the backup nickel and was targeted twice for two catches and 37 yards, per Pro Football Focus. He also played eight snaps on special teams, appearing on both the kickoff and punt return units.
Over 1,000 of Pride’s 1,400-plus career defensive snaps in college were as a true outside cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. The rookie could be the first player off the bench if either Ward or Blackmon gets banged up.
Daniel Thomas will get a chance to bolster Browns’ improved special teams unit
Thomas was inactive for both of the Browns’ first two games. He was looking like a potential special teams captain early in camp, but he’s part of the deepest position group on the roster and is behind Donovan McMillon on the depth chart.
The Browns have Emmanuel McNeil-Warren waiting in the wings at safety should Delpit be limited against the Panthers. Thomas will likely assume a core role on special teams against the Panthers.
Rookies Parker Brailsford, Justin Jefferson remain in developmental mode
Cleveland’s two rookie draft picks, Jefferson and Brailsford, are both developing behind the scenes. Brailsford is making up for lost time after missing most of camp with a wrist injury. He’s the No. 3 center behind Luke Wypler right now.
This could be a redshirt year on defense for Jefferson in Cleveland’s crowded linebacker room. He got a step closer to the field this week, though, with Nathaniel Watson being placed on the practice squad/injured list.
Cleveland Browns active 48-man roster for Week 3 vs. Carolina Panthers
Quarterback (2): Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders
Running back (4): Quinshon Judkins, Raheim Sanders, Jaleel McLaughlin, Michael Burton (FB)
Tight end (3): Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, Carsen Ryan
Wide receiver (6): Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, Tylan Wallace, Malachi Corley
Offensive line (8): Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, Austin Barber, Tytus Howard, Dawand Jones, Zak Zinter, Luke Wypler
Defensive line (8): Jared Verse, Maliek Collins, Mason Graham, Isaiah McGuire, Sam Williams, Derek Barnett, Adin Huntington, Mike Hall Jr.
Linebacker (4): Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Winston Reid
Safety (5): Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Donovan McMillon, Daniel Thomas
Cornerback (5): Denzel Ward, Mekhi Blackmon, Myles Harden, Noah Igbinoghene, Toriano Pride Jr.
Specialists (3): Andre Szmyt, Corey Bojorquez, Rex Sunahara
*Taylen Green is inactive with an emergency QB3 designation
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