Injuries are commonplace in the NFL, but the Cleveland Browns are more banged up than most teams.
The team’s Monday injury report had 20 players listed; there are 53 on the roster.
Scheduling is not in the Browns’ favor right now either.
They played a Sunday game at 4:05 p.m. ET and now turn around to play a Thursday Night Football game against the Denver Broncos.
The Browns are toeing the line at 3-3 but really cannot afford to lose the Broncos game and fall to 3-4 in a very competitive AFC North division.
With the Baltimore Ravens leading at 5-1, followed by the Cincinnati Bengals at 4-2, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Browns tied at 3-3, things are already tight.
Are the Browns at the point where they are too injured to be competitive?
Can they overcome so many significant and long-term injuries to star players?
Nobody really knows for sure, but we are about to find out.
Who Is Missing
We know that quarterback Baker Mayfield will be out as well as running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
We do not know about the offensive line or wide receivers.
The offensive line has been the issue.
Once known for its ability to protect the quarterback and create huge running lanes for Chubb and Hunt, the OL is a shadow of its former self with injuries to the center (JC Tretter) and both offensive tackles (Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin).
Wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry may not play either because of lingering injuries.
Veteran backup quarterback Case Keenum may have to deal with a patchwork line, young running backs, and young wide receivers.
The Browns could be without these players on TNF:
QB Baker Mayfield
RB Kareem Hunt
RB Nick Chubb
WR Jarvis Landry
WR Odell Beckham Jr (Shoulder)
OT Jack Conklin (Knee)
OT Jedrick Wills (Ankle)
C JC Tretter (Knee)
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah pic.twitter.com/kgZNXKjLxY— PFF (@PFF) October 20, 2021
Cleveland Browns Injury Report
I had to zoom out on my Chrome browser (using a 13" Macbook Pro) to fit the entire report in one screenshot.
Baker Mayfield will miss this Sunday's game. It will be his first missed start in his career. pic.twitter.com/1heNxara7b
— Analytics Capper (@AnalyticsCapper) October 20, 2021
Next Man Up
The Browns are the epitome of the “next man up” mentality.
They played a playoff game without their head coach because of COVID-19.
Last year, Mayfield joked about meeting his left guard in the locker room before the game.
Baker Mayfield said he introduced himself to Blake Hance before the game. Hance finished the game at LG.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) January 11, 2021
This team has a deep roster.
If anyone can play through this chaotic injury situation, it is the Browns.
Long Season Ahead
Let’s remember that we have an extra regular season game this year.
There are 17.
We are only at Week 7; the Browns managed to be 3-3.
All is definitely not lost.
There is plenty of time for players to heal and return to the field in the latter stages of the season.
Things Could Be Worse…And Have Been For The Browns
This is the team that had a 1-31 record through two NFL seasons.
Adversity is something they know well.
Stop being so afraid we’re back to 1-31. We are so far from those days, y’all!!! We are not laughing stocks anymore. We are in growing pains on way towards greatness. Calm yourselves, we got this. #Browns Just mentally prep and steady yourselves to cheer loudly on Thursday!!
— 🤎🧡”Hybrid”❤️💙 (@BrownsVBills) October 18, 2021
There is now better coaching and front office management to give this team the tools it needs to succeed.
The Browns are going to show America how gritty they are on Thursday night with their backup quarterback and second and third-string players.
Though many count them out, they could just surprise everyone.
NEXT: Browns May Need Only Minor Tweaks To Offensive Strategy
