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Browns injuries could set up Jets to find success in Week 5
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- Browns injuries could set up Jets to find success in Week 5
The Cleveland Browns have leaned on their defense this year with good results. With three victories, all three wins were come-from-behind victories that required the defense to control the other club's offense once the Browns got the late lead.
Part of that success for the defense has been the play of their defensive tackles, who surprisingly have provided a very good pass rush. But for the upcoming game against the New York Jets, Mason Graham and Mike Hall, Jr. have been ruled out, and Kalia Davis will not be activated from injured reserve .
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Graham has been a constant spark plug in just his second season. He was injured in the Thursday Night Football game against division foe Pittsburgh Steelers. He was injured in a sea of bodies as he sprained his MCL and ankle, and then hobbled off the field on his own. After the game, he was seen on crutches and with a knee brace. MRIs showed there was nothing structurally wrong with Graham's knee and that surgery would not be necessary.
All this past week, Graham did not practice, although he is no longer on crutches or wearing any type of brace. On Friday, the Browns officially ruled him out for the Jets contest.
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Hall, Jr. was injured right after Graham left the field. He sustained a lower-right ankle injury during the second quarter after his teammate, DE Jared Verse, was blocked into his leg. The cart was summoned, but Hall miraculously returned to the game in the second half and recorded a crucial sack against QB Aaron Rodgers.
Like Graham, Hall did not practice all week. He was ruled out for the Jets game as well. Also ruled out is DT Kalia Davis (quad).
New York will be without RB Breece Hall but have a chance to get their run game going without much of Cleveland's interior linemen available. The Jets have only attempted 99 rushes this year and have the third-worst yards-per-carry average (3.4).
The defensive tackle position has gotten pretty thin in Cleveland after being viewed as a team strength. DT Maliek Collins will start as usual, but the other DT spot will be manned by backup Adin Huntington, who is the last healthy defensive tackle remaining. On the practice squad are Zion Logue and Sam Kamara. Huntington had a sack in the game that was nullified by a penalty.
Graham leads the Browns' defense in sacks with four.
