The Cleveland Browns may start their offensive line at full strength against the Houston Texans despite the loss of a linebacker who had his knee scoped. The top two picks selected by the Texans will not be available.
The Cleveland Browns had to rule out linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who has a knee scope as noted by Fred Greetham, but they might be able to put the best offensive line they have left as left guard Joel Bitonio is questionable. The Houston Texans ruled out quarterback C.J. Stroud, edge Will Anderson and linebacker Blake Cashman for Sunday’s game.
Walker is evaluated on a weekly basis. The group is hoping that he will be able to return this year. Though defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz stated in his news conference on Thursday that Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah shouldn’t leave the field for the remainder of the season, Sione Takitaki will probably play the majority of his snaps this week
Security Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (calf), edge Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (pec), and Juan Thornhill (calf) were all one again ruled out. Charlie Thomas III might be added to the active roster for the second straight week in order to assist on special teams, and Ronnie Hickman is expected to start his third straight game.
Joel Bitonio’s return to practice is the lone item of good news. On Sunday, he could no longer continue because his back locked up. Bitonio has a knee problem as well, but his back is more likely to heal this week. Though the Browns are expected to start center Ethan Pocic again after he was sidelined for the game the previous week, the team labeled him as questionable. That would be the case.
The absence of Stroud and Anderson is not shocking, but it does give the Browns more time to concentrate entirely on quarterback Case Keenum. The Texans still have talent there with Derek Barnett, Jerry Hughes, and Jonathan Greenard. Anderson is a potential star, though, and the Texans lose him.
Additionally, the team has classified linebacker Denzel Perryman (Achilles), defensive tackle Maliek Collins (hip), and wide receiver Nico Collins (calf) as questionable. After practicing all week, all three seem ready to play.
