CLEVELAND — The week started with the Browns sounding confident they would have Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars . Turns out, that confidence was unfounded.
Ward was ruled out against the Jaguars as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. It's the third consecutive game the two-time Pro Bowler has missed with the injury, which he suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers .
Martin Emerson Jr. will once again start in Ward's place. Greg Newsome II remains the No. 2 cornerback, while Cameron Mitchell and Mike Ford Jr. are the likely candidates to fill in as the No. 3 corner.
Ward was one of two Browns starters who were initially listed as questionable Friday, only to be ruled out due to injury. Right tackle Dawand Jones was ruled out Saturday with a knee injury he sustained at practice Thursday.
James Hudson III will start in place of Jones. Hudson started in Week 10 at the Baltimore Ravens for Jones, and also was out first the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, although Jones did play in that game.
The Browns' remaining inactive players are all rookies: linebacker Mohamoud Diabate , center Luke Wypler , defensive end Isaiah McGuire and defensive tackle Siaki Ika .
The Jaguars ended the mystery of who they will start at quarterback more than 90 minutes before kickoff by announcing Trevor Lawrence will be the starter. Lawrence had left Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with an ankle injury.
Lawrence was listed as questionable coming into the game. However, he show no signs of a limp while going through warmups.
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: Browns injury report: Denzel Ward inactive vs Jaguars
