FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
CAROLINA PANTHERS
–OUT: K Graham Gano (left knee), G Amini Silatolu (knee/injured reserve)
–QUESTIONABLE: S Colin Jones (illness)
CLEVELAND BROWNS
–OUT: T Austin Corbett (foot), CB Denzel Ward (concussion)
–QUESTIONABLE: CB Phillip Gaines (knee), DT Larry Ogunjobi (biceps), C JC Tretter (ankle)
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: SS Jabrill Peppers could get the assignment of spying on Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday. He will be a busy man if he does, because Newton has carried the ball 91 times for 450 yards and four touchdowns this season. Peppers is fifth among Browns defenders with 58 tackles.
GAME PLAN: The Browns want to get back to a balanced offense when they host the Panthers. Nick Chubb carried only nine times for 31 yards against the Texans. Both were his lowest numbers since becoming the starter Oct. 21 in Tampa. Keeping Chubb involved on the ground means getting off to a faster start on Sunday. The Browns trailed the Texans, 23-0, at halftime. Chubb carried four times for three yards in the second half.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
–Browns LBs vs. Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey. Not including QB Cam Newton, McCaffrey is the busiest man in the Panthers offense. He leads the Panthers with 163 carries and 80 receptions with a total of 11 touchdowns. He is a threat to touch the ball on every play, so the linebackers will have to be on high alert.
–Browns RT Chris Hubbard vs. Panthers DE Mario Addison. Julius Peppers is the marquee name on the Panthers defensive line, but Addison is the team leader with eight sacks. The Browns haven’t allowed a sack in three games. Hubbard will have to shut out Addison to extend that streak.
