The Cleveland Browns have booked their second return to the playoffs in just 20 years. With Baltimore’s win on Sunday, the Browns are officially locked into the AFC’s No. 5 seed. Their 11-5 record isn’t good enough to overtake the Baltimore Ravens for the division crown. Yet, their record is better than any other AFC wild-card team.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals are one game away from concluding a disappointing 2023. They lost their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow just as things were starting to come together. At 8-8, they’re officially eliminated from the playoffs.
That makes Sunday’s Cleveland at Cincinnati trist essentially meaningless. The result will not change the Cleveland Browns No. 5 seed, nor the vacations the Bengals players have booked starting Monday. That begs the question…
Should the Cleveland Browns Rest Their Stars On Sunday?
The Cleveland Browns have managed to meet their high expectations for 2023 despite what can only be described as an apocalyptic series of injuries. The team has close to a third of its salary cap on injured reserve. They’ve been without all-world running back Nick Chubb since Week 2. Somehow, their quarter-billion-dollar franchise quarterback managed to play in fewer games in 2023 than he did the year before when he was infamously suspended for 11. On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns offense expects that only two players will have made a start every week: Guard Wyatt Teller and Tight End David Njoku.
Most offensive skill players appear on the weekly injured report. Receiver Amari Cooper couldn’t make a go of it on Thursday night. Elijah Moore may be done for the season with a concussion. The offensive line is patchwork on its best day at this point. Both backs Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt seem to miss at least some practice every week.
While the defense has stayed somewhat healthier, it’s also banged up. DE Myles Garrett was on a record-setting sack pace, but a shoulder injury has limited his effectiveness. He finally broke a six-game sackless streak against the Jets last Thursday and had barely blipped on the stat sheet since before Thanksgiving. Cornerback Denzel Ward has missed various games with a litany of maladies.
The mini-bye from a Thursday night game combined with a week off instead of a Cincinnati game could be of major benefit for all of these lingering injuries.
Are Reinforcements Coming?
Short answer: On offense, not really. On defense? Possibly. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and safety Grant Delpit have missed multiple games with significant injuries. Delpit has been on injured reserve but is eligible to return in the wild-card round. If both somehow make it back, the Cleveland Browns could amazingly put out all 11 starters in two weeks. For a defense as talented as theirs, that could make up for an offense starting its fourth quarterback of the season.
Even the Cleveland Browns Specialists are Hurt
Kicker Dustin Hopkins and Punter Corey Bojorquez missed last Thursday’s game against the Jets. Hopkins has low-key been the Cleveland Browns MVP since joining the team just before Week 1. Bojorquez has been a one-man defense, often booting the ball for over 50 yards a shot. On Thursday, the team elevated a pair of practice squad additions who performed admirably, but both Hopkins and Bojorquez were sorely missed. Of the two, Bojorquez is closer to potentially returning for Week 18. Hopkins missed most of 2022 in Los Angeles with a similar injury, so he is one that Cleveland faithful will be watching in the coming days.
Main Photo: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
