PLAYER NOTES
–WR Rod Streater (neck) was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
–WR Da’Mari Scott was elevated from the practice squad to replace Rpd Streater.
–LB James Burgess (hamstring) was waived/injured on Tuesday.
–LB Xavier Woodson-Luster was activated from the practice squad.
–LB Joe Schobert (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.
–WR Derrick Willies (collarbone) was placed on injured reserve. He had surgery Monday.
–C JC Tretter (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. He was injured playing the Chargers. Rookie Austin Corbett would start if Tretter cannot play.
–WR Rashard Higgins (knee) did not practice. He was injured playing the Ravens on Oct. 7.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB E.J. Gaines has been picked on since replacing injured Terrance Mitchell (wrist) in the starting lineup on Oct. 7. The Browns can expect more of the same on Sunday with DeSean Jackson catching passes from Jameis Winston. Jackson has 21 catches for 501 yards and three touchdowns.
GAME PLAN: The Browns definitely want to emphasize the run on Sunday. The Buccaneers have yielded 16 passing touchdowns, but the Browns are so young with three rookies at wide receiver that they cannot rely on a heavy air attack. Running back Carlos Hyde has a nose for the goal line and Nick Chubb is hard to track down from behind once he turns the corner. Hyde has five rushing touchdowns and Chubb has two.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Browns CB Denzel Ward vs. Buccaneers WR Mike Evans. Ward is playing well enough to get early consideration for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Evans has 33 catches for 484 yards and three touchdowns after just five games. Ward can play a huge role in what the Browns hope is a rebound win if he can contain Evans.
–Browns LT Desmond Harrison vs. Buccaneers DE Jason Pierre-Paul. Harrison has held his ground as a rookie replacing Joe Thomas, but in this game he’ll face an end that knows all the tricks. Pierre-Paul, in his ninth season, leads the Bucs with five sacks.
