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Denzel Ward's concussion raises questions for Browns before opener against Bengals
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- Denzel Ward's concussion raises questions for Browns before opener against Bengals
BEREA — Few Browns players are more excited to see the Cincinnati Bengals on the other side than Denzel Ward . The cornerback has had as much success against the other Ohio team as any team in the league.
The problem for the Browns as they prepare for Sunday's season opener on the lakefront against the Bengals is that the one player whose status for the game is in jeopardy is Ward. The two-time Pro Bowler remained in the concussion protocol as the team began game week preparation Monday morning.
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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was non-committal about Ward's status beyond the immediate second he was asked.
"Well, I mean, I'd say Denzel's in the protocol, so he's got to work through that and see how it goes," Stefanski said. "We know what type of challenge this is. It's a huge challenge. They've got great players, really good coaches. We know what you're getting into."
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) intercepts a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) in the end zone in the first quarter of the NFL Week 9 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. Cleveland led 24-10 at halftime.
Of course, the Bengals are not without their own lingering injury questions. Actually, it's a rather enormous one.
Quarterback Joe Burrow returned as a practice participant last week for the Bengals after having sustained a calf strain on July 27. Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor has been playing it coy over the last several weeks with regards to his star quarterback's status against the Browns.
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The Browns, though, aren't buying the Bengals' potential bluff.
"I expect Joe to be exactly who we think he is, be that elite quarterback, be that leader for them and still go out there and run the offense efficiently," safety Rodney McLeod said Monday. "So regardless of how many snaps he's got, I know he'll be fully prepared for week one, and that's how we're approaching it."
Even if Burrow's not at 100%, there's been absolutely no indication of any kind of injury slowing down Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd , arguably the league's best trio of receivers. While it would certainly be different if Trevor Siemian was the one throwing the football Sunday instead of Burrow, it's still an elite group of players catching those passes.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) fights off a tackle by Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) on a reception Dec. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati.
Which leads back to the questions about Ward's status for Sunday. McLeod, for one, sounded as optimistic as anyone about the former Nordonia High School and Ohio State product's chances of playing, even as he couched that optimism.
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"I think we're encouraged that he will be available for us," McLeod said, "so we're allowing Denzel to take the time necessary, the doctors to do their job and hoping that he's there when we need him. When he's on the field, he's a weapon for us, somebody who we need come Sunday in order for us to have great success. But if he's not, it's next man up. We hold everybody to the same standard and expect the same results."
Ward has played in eight games against the Bengals since coming into the NFL as the No. 4 overall pick in 2018. He's had three of his 13 career interceptions against Cincinnati, including both he's returned for touchdowns.
The only two previous times he's missed games against the Bengals was the 2021 season finale and last year's Week 8 home win on "Monday Night Football." Of course, in the first, Cincinnati essentially rested most of its regulars after having wrapped up the AFC North title, while Chase was also absent from last year's game in Cleveland due to an injury.
Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod (26) celebrates with defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) after an interception Aug. 26 against the Chiefs in Kansas City.
If Ward can't go, the obvious adjustment is that second-year pro Martin Emerson Jr. will join Greg Newsome II as the starting cornerbacks in the base coverage. It's the various machinations the Browns may go through when they shift into various nickel looks, especially any three-corner looks, that remain up in the air with Ward's status in question.
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One such adjustment will likely include more three-safety looks involving McLeod alongside Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill . If it's a third corner necessary, you're looking at Mike Ford Jr. and Cameron Mitchell, as well as newl acquired Kalef Hailassie as the only other options on the active roster unless A.J. Green is a gameday elevation from the practice squad.
"There's a lot of guys fully capable, and that's when you know you have a good team is when you have great depth," McLeod said. "And so we've established, I think, depth this offseason and over the course of training camp, having guys play a lot of snaps for us. And you've seen productivity, so we feel confident about whoever the 11 is that suits up for us come Sunday."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Denzel Ward's concussion raises issues for Browns with Bengals ahead
