Day two of Browns Coffee Corner! Grab that cup of joe, sit down, and dig into some Cleveland Browns quick hitters! In this edition, we hit on Kyler Murray’s return just in time for the Browns, the lack of a return of Deshaun Watson in Cleveland, the continued praise of rookie right tackle Dawand Jones and more.
As the team gets ready for their Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, there is a lot up in the air for both teams in this game. Sitting at 3-2, the Browns have a chance to end the week at the top of the AFC North standings if the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions take care of business as well.
The Browns, however, enter this week with quite a long list of players on their injury report, including Watson. With three days to go until the Browns and Colts lock horns, get caught up on everything Browns-related here!
The Browns are officially on Kyler Murray watch
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has returned to practice as the team has opened his 21-day window toward returning from the Physically Unable to Perform list. While Joshua Dobbs will still start for the Cardinals this week against the Seattle Seahawks, they are set to face the Baltimore Ravens next week, and then the Browns the week after.
Both of these games have obvious implications for the Browns.
The Cardinals will not rush him back onto the field, but could he return to the field in time to take on the Ravens or the Browns over the next two weeks?
The fascinating Browns' defense stat of the day
The Browns are the hardest defense to pick up a first down against of any unit since at least 1999. They are better than the 2019 New England Patriots, better than the mean 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, better than the 2001 Baltimore Ravens.
This is a Browns unit that has the potential to go down as the best of all-time. If the team can figure out a way to field a competent offense, and Sunday against the Niners was promising given their run game wrinkles, then they are going to be contenders.
Even without any era adjustments and playing in an offensive-friendly environment, the Browns defense has been the hardest defense to earn a first down against in the entire nflfastR era (since 1999) https://t.co/dpNBlVqpYO pic.twitter.com/gRJrrrCTkg
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) October 18, 2023
Deshaun Watson or P.J. Walker? Flip a coin.
We still have no idea who is going to start on Sunday against the Colts. Deshaun Watson was honest with the media yesterday that he has no timeline for his return. He did not rule out returning to practice this week and playing against the Colts, but he also said it could be another week or so.
We do know that P.J. Walker will once again get the start for the Browns if Watson cannot go. Keep an eye on the injury report today and tomorrow, but the forecast looks like it’s calling for another week of Walker as the Browns travel to Indianapolis.
Former DC Gregg Williams has a podcast now
A sign that he knows his coaching career is over after getting burned on a Cover-0 call in his last game as a defensive coordinator with the New York Jets, former Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams now has a podcast with his son Blake.
Blake, of course, was the linebackers coach under his dad during their time in Cleveland. You can now find their podcast, Come Get Some, on Monday nights.
Happy Birthday to Juan Thornhill!
The signing of Juan Thornhill has been everything the fanbase in Cleveland has hoped it would be. And they got him for $5 million less per year than they were set to pay John Johnson III. And today is his 28th birthday!
Make sure to let the safety, who is very active on social media, know how much he is appreciated today!
Chris Long shouts out Dawand Jones
We covered the praise Chris Long, who played under Jim Schwartz with the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, had for his defensive coordinator. However, there is a small little peek under the curtain at the end as well where Long specifically shouts out rookie right tackle Dawand Jones as well.
Long states the Browns, who fell into this position due to an injury to Jack Conklin, “have found their guy” at right tackle with Jones.
And it’s hard to disagree.
Why has Jim Schwartz had Kyle Shanahan’s number?@JOEL9ONE with the insight Monday on the @RichEisenShow. 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/RK4oONfX5S
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 18, 2023
Other Browns links and analysis
Browns need defense to take its show on the road (Dawgs By Nature)
Is Derrick Henry a realistic option for Browns at NFL Trade Deadline? (Dawg Pound Daily)
Could the Browns trade Donovan Peoples-Jones? (The OBR)
Cleveland Must Protect Against “Trap Game” In Indianapolis (SI Browns Digest)
Colts’ Injury Report (Colts Wire)
How Jim Schwartz and the Browns tore Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers offense apart (Touchdown Wire)
Devontez Walker announces himself with a breakout game for North Carolina (Draft Wire)
