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Browns injury report: Nick Chubb expected to play vs. Bengals despite being 'questionable'
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- Browns injury report: Nick Chubb expected to play vs. Bengals despite being 'questionable'
BEREA — It's progress for the Browns in the trainer's room. Now they'll have to turn it into progress on the field Sunday.
Friday's practice included the participation of center Ethan Pocic , running backs Nick Chubb and Nyheim Hines and safeties Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill . How many of them actually play Sunday when the Browns play host to the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals will be the ultimate question to be answered before kickoff.
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All five of them, along with linebacker Jordan Hicks (ribs, thigh, triceps), were listed as questionable by the Browns. Running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) and safety Ronnie Hickman (ankle) are out.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday should be the triumphant return of Chubb from the knee injury that ended his season a year ago in Week 2 at the Pittsburgh Steelers despite his questionable status. Stefanski said the opposite of Hines, who's been working back for more than a year from a knee injury suffered in a summer 2022 jet ski accident.
"We do" have a plan for Chubb, Stefanski said, "and it's talking with Nick, talking with how he feels and with (running backs coach) Duce (Staley), we have a plan in place. And then you have to be ready to adjust based on how Nick is feeling."
Chubb and Hines, if they're going to play against the Bengals, would have to be activated from the injured reserve before kickoff. So, too, does Thornhill, who has been out since after the opener against the Dallas Cowboys with a calf injury but believes he'll play Sunday.
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"Feeling pretty good right now," Thornhill said after practice Friday. "Finally, I had some time to actually sit down and let this thing heal. Dealing with that all last year, it was pretty tough, but the fact that I actually got some time to sit down and let this thing heal, I think I'm ready to go."
Pocic returned to practice Thursday after having been out since suffering a knee injury a Week 5 loss at the Washington Commanders . His absence against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday led to a trickle-down effect that included Nick Harris ' ankle injury on the third play and Michael Dunn having to shift from right guard to center for the remainder of the game.
Browns running back Nick Chubb scores a second-half touchdown against the Bengals Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Cleveland.
Assuming Pocic can go, the Browns offensive line will be as close to its best version as it's been all season. Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin are expected to start at the tackle spots together for the second consecutive game, the first time that's happened since the end of the 2022 season.
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Wills and Conklin were playing together for the first time since last season's opener against the Bengals, when Conklin suffered a season-ending knee injury. The game in Philadelphia was his first game since then, which, while adding some soreness to his Monday, hasn't added any to the rest of his week.
"It actually feels more normal, to be honest," Conklin said. "Just to get back to that feeling, it's kind of one of those things once you get into the groove and your body gets used to it. So just looking forward to that."
The interior of the line would be filled out with Joel Bitonio at his usual left guard position, with Pocic next to him and Dunn shifting back to right guard. Dunn had started against the Eagles at right guard in place of Zak Zinter , who had started the previous two games in place of the injured Wyatt Teller .
If for some reason Pocic can't play against the Bengals, the fact Dunn's gone through virtually a full game as well as a second week of some practice there will provide some help.
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"Yeah, I mean, obviously could have done better," Dunn told the Beacon Journal this week. "The No. 1 job is to win the game, which we weren't able to accomplish. So, yeah, of course would like a few plays back, but thought it went well. Overall, really appreciate the coaches and my teammates helping me out throughout the entire game, and obviously leading up to it.
"I knew I was the backup center if the situation did occur, so everybody did a good job kind of helping me stay ready."
Delpit cleared the final steps of the concussion protocol late this week. He said Thursday all he had to do was get through that day's fully padded practice to get the final OK.
With Hickman still out and Thornhill questionable to be activated from the injured reserve, the return of Delpit at least brings back a level of experience to the safety position. The Browns started Rodney McLeod and D'Anthony Bell against Philadelphia, with McLeod getting his second touchdown on a blocked field goal.
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McLeod would likely start at the other safety spot opposite Delpit.
(This story has been updated with new information.)
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns injury news: Nick Chubb expected to go vs. Bengals
