PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

October 25, 2018 at 12:12 am.

PLAYER NOTES

–TE Pharaoh Brown was elevated from the practice squad on Tuesday to fill the roster vacancy created when running back Carlos Hyde was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick.

–C JC Tretter (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. He played against the Buccaneers with the injury last week.

–LB Joe Schobert (hamstring) did not practice. The injury prevented him from playing against the Buccaneers.

–CB E.J. Gaines (concussion) did not practice. He did not play against the Buccaneers.

–DB Damarious Randall (groin/ankle) did not practice. Randall, normally a free safety, played cornerback last week in place of e.j. Gaines.

–WR Rashard Higgins (knee) did not practice. He has missed three games with the injury.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB Denzel Ward will be matched up against Steelers All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown most of the day. The rookie can expect a busy afternoon. Brown was targeted 16 times and made nine catches for 93 yards and a touchdown in the opener. One of those catches was for 22 yards and a touchdown when Ward had tight coverage on him.

GAME PLAN: Easier said than done, but the Browns are determined to get off to a fast start and erase the stigma of being the only team in the NFL without a first-quarter touchdown. To make that happen, the Browns are likely to be more aggressive throwing downfield early instead of quick throws and checkdowns as they have in most games.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Browns LB Christian Kirksey vs. Steelers RB James Conner. Kirksey is starting at middle linebacker because Joe Schobert is still bothered by a hamstring injury. Conner rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns in the opener. The Browns will have difficulty beating (or tying) the Steelers if Conner has a similar game Sunday.

–Browns TE David Njoku vs. Steelers SS Morgan Burnett. Njoku had a tendency to drop passes as a rookie, but he has been more consistent this season. He has become a favorite target of Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Steelers might give Burnett help to keep Njoku covered all day.

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