Wednesday Injury Report: Texans Lose Several Key Players, Some Good News for the Browns
In preparation for a demanding stretch that includes two games in five days, the Cleveland Browns decided to conduct a walkthrough during their practice on Wednesday. However, they did receive encouraging news regarding injuries prior to their game against the Houston Texans. Ethan Pocic, the center, and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. were allowed to practice. The only players on the list who weren’t practicing were linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk, left guard Joel Bitonio, safety Juan Thornhill, and edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Not one of those four names makes sense. Bitonio was forced to leave the game on Sunday due to a locked up back. Bitonio claims that things are getting better, but this week, you should keep an eye on the injury. The Browns’ offensive line is as good as it gets in the current situation if they have Bitonio, Pocic, and Teller. After battling mightily against the Chicago Bears, they might be able to run the ball more with better pass protection.
Thornhill’s calf still gives him trouble. The team has not placed him on injured reserve, so they must believe he will return before the series reaches four games. There is no word on when he will be available. While Grant Delpit is recovering from a groin injury, the Browns would prefer to have all options available to them while Ronnie Hickman performed admirably in Thornhill’s absence during the previous two games.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo recovering this season from his pec injury has not been ruled out by the team. Even though it’s still hard to think he’ll be able to return this year, he’s not giving up.
Cornerback Denzel Ward was a full participant in the game, but quarterback Joe Flacco was added to the injury report with a calf injury.
Conversely, the Houston Texans are behaving as though quarterback C.J. Stroud isn’t going to participate in this game. According to reports on Tuesday, he was still experiencing symptoms, indicating that he has not yet begun the process of going back to playing. Ryans was totally preoccupied with Stroud’s condition on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, several Texans players were absent from practice. Nico Collins, their top receiver, was sidelined by a calf injury. Robert Woods and John Metchie had almost no limitations, while Noah Brown did. Will Anderson, their impact pass rusher, has a high ankle sprain. A couple of their offensive linemen, such as right guard Shaq Mason and franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil, were held out.
BEREA, Ohio — Although the offense may not be referred to as a “Air Raid,” it is difficult to imagine quarterback Joe Flacco accomplishing what he has with the Cleveland Browns since he joined the practice squad on November 20.
Flacco has thrown the ball 133 times in his first three games, completing 77 passes for 939 yards (57.9 percent completion percentage). Since taking over against the Rams, Flacco has averaged over 44 passes per game as the quarterback. With seven touchdowns and five interceptions in his 2-1 career as a starter. He has an 81.6 rating and has been fired seven times.
At quarterback for the Browns, Flacco has been producing stats that haven’t been seen in a very long time, if ever. With 939 yards passing in his first three games, he has eclipsed Baker Mayfield’s record of 875 yards set in 2018 as the most passing yards by a Browns quarterback ever. Before then, in his first three games with the Browns in 2004, Jeff Garcia had accumulated 822 yards.
Furthermore, Flacco tied Vinny Testaverde for the most touchdown passes in franchise history after his three touchdown passes on Sunday, bringing his total to seven in his first three games. In his first three games of 1994, Testaverde threw seven touchdown passes.
Flacco had a dismal first three quarters against the Bears last Sunday, going just 17 of 31 for 162 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. But in the fourth quarter, he really got going, going 11 of 13 for 212 yards and a 144.4 rating. Flacco guided the Browns to three scoring drives, two field goals, and a touchdown in four fourth-quarter possessions. With only 32 seconds remaining on his final drive, kicker Dustin Hopkins made a 34-yard field goal to win the game.
According to ESPN Stats Info, Flacco’s 212 passing yards in the fourth quarter were the most for any quarterback in any quarter for the Browns during the previous 45 seasons.
After being selected by the Ravens in the first round in 2008, Flacco (6-6, 245) is in his 16th NFL season. Prior to joining the Browns, Flacco played in 183 games with 180 starts for the Ravens (2008–18), Broncos (2019), and Jets (2020–22). Throughout his career, he has completed 3,881 of 6,299 passes (61.6%), accounting for 232 touchdowns and 147 interceptions.
When he joined the Browns, his starting record was 99-81 (.550). For now, as a starter, he is 101-82. In addition to winning the Super Bowl MVP award, Flacco guided the Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XLVII. He most recently started four games in 2022 for the Jets.
Flacco has now thrown for 43,259 yards in his career.
According to Jerome Ford, Flacco’s extensive NFL experience has calmed the Browns.
Ford exclaimed, “He’s great.” “To be honest, playing with him and simply observing him at work has been enjoyable. You’re able to see his passes. You can see that he gets excited every time he makes a pass like that. Other than that, he’s usually a chill, cool dude. Very laid back. Not a true panic.
“He’s always like, the best way I can explain it is everything could be exploding around him, and you’ll just see him sitting there calm, trying to get everything together and figure stuff out,” he explained. “There is absolutely no panic. Additionally, it seems to merely benefit us, and we benefit from it.
