PLAYER NOTES
–WR Rod Streater was signed to fill the roster spot left open when wide receiver Josh Gordon was traded to the Patriots on Monday. Streater, signed by the Raiders as an undrafted rookie in 2012, has played in 36 games with the Raiders and 16 with the 49ers. He has 127 career receptions for 1,755 yards and 10 touchdowns.
–DE Emmanuel Ogbah (ankle) did not practice Tuesday. The injury kept him out of the game with the Saints in Week 2. He has been ruled out for Thursday.
–TE Seth DeValve (hamstring) did not practice. He missed the game with the Saints.
–FS Damarious Randall (heel) did not practice Tuesday. He was injured in the game with the Saints. Head coach Hue Jackson is hopeful Randall can play against the Jets on Thursday night.
–LB Christian Kirksey (shoulder/ankle) did not practice, but he has not been ruled out for Thursday night Kirksey did not play against the Saints.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WR Antonio Callaway. The Browns’ decision to trade Josh Gordon means an increased role for Callaway, the rookie fourth-round draft pick from Florida. He can stretch the field. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, known for being conservative, won’t be afraid to air it out if Callaway gets behind the safeties.
GAME PLAN: The NFL is a copycat league. The Browns therefore can be expected to keep the ball on the ground when they play the Jets on Thursday night. The Dolphins pounded out 135 rushing yards on 31 carries on their way to beating the Jets, 20-12. Carlos Hyde is the main running back for the Browns, but Duke Johnson Jr. could get an increased workload running the ball as well while remaining a target for Tyrod Taylor in the passing game.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Browns FS Damarious Randall vs. Jets QB Sam Darnold. Randall is racing the clock to recover from a heel injury in time to play Thursday night. Randall is in his fourth season and capable of reading the rookie Darnold’s eyes to get an interception.
–Browns WR Jarvis Landry vs. Jets DB Buster Skrine. Skrine usually covers the slot receiver for the Jets. Landry can line up split wide or in the slot in the Browns’ various offensive sets. A Landry-Skrine duel should be a good one because Landry is shifty and Skrine can close quickly.
