Cleveland Browns news and notes, Week 16: Joel Bitonio, others injured remain ‘day to day’

BEREA — Anyone hoping a night’s sleep would assuage any long-term concerns about the Browns’ current injury situation would’ve been disappointed on Monday,

Head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the team’s injuries right at the start of his Monday day-after Zoom call with the media. However, he had nothing of clarity as to how those injuries will impact the Browns’ trip to face the Houston Texans next Sunday in a game dripping with AFC playoff implications.

“Don’t really have major injury updates, guys,” Stefanski said. “Everybody’s basically day to day there.”

The biggest one is All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio, who left the game with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter. Bitonio had what was announced as a back injury, which he actually did during pregame warmups.

Bitonio missed the Browns’ Week 6 win over the San Francisco 49ers while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery during the bye week. Michael Dunn, who also filled in for Bitonio on Sunday, started in his place, snapping the All-Pro’s 102-game consecutive regular-season start streak.

Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio (75) blocks during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Cleveland. The Browns won 27-3. (AP Photo/David Richard)

“Low back injury,” Stefanski said. “I don’t know that it’s more than that. I know that’s painful. Tried to go, but felt like he couldn’t.”

The other injury statuses being watched this week are that of linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (knee) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf). Both did not play Sunday with the injuries, with Thornhill missing his second consecutive game.

Walker was replaced in the lineup by Tony Fields II. Thornhill was replaced by rookie Ronnie Hickman.

Cleveland Browns offensive line remains in state of flux

Bitonio is one of two offensive linemen whose status would be critically important for the game against the Texans. The other is center Ethan Pocic, who missed Sunday’s game with a stinger he suffered the week before against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Nick Harris started in place of Pocic and played all but one snap. Harris had to leave the game for a play after getting shaken up on a second-down sack early in the fourth quarter, but did return at the start of the next series.

Rookie Luke Wypler subbed in for Harris on the one play in which he missed. It was the fourth offensive snap and 21st overall snap the sixth-round pick out of Ohio State played.

If both Bitonio and Pocic can’t play in Houston, the likely line combination of Harris, Dunn and Wyatt Teller at guard and Geron Christian and James Hudson III at tackle would be the seventh different combination the Browns have started this season. They started their sixth different one Sunday against the Bears with Harris at center, along with Bitonio and Teller at guard and Christian and Hudson at tackle.

“I think our guys understand the realities of this game,” Stefanski said. “We don’t spend a lot of time in the woulda, coulda, shoulda world. Just deal with what’s in front of us. And I think that’s a testament to the leadership from the players.”

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud still in concussion protocol, uncertain against Browns
The Browns won’t be the team wondering about their quarterback’s status this week heading to Houston. The Texans are still waiting for rookie phenom C.J. Stroud to pass through the concussion protocol, which he has been in for more than a week.

Stroud, considered the favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was knocked out of Houston’s Week 14 loss to the New York Jets. He missed the Texans’ 16-13 overtime win at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, with Case Keenum starting for Houston.

“C.J. is still in the concussion protocol,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told Houston reporters Monday. “We’ll see how he progresses throughout the week.”

If Keenum starts, it would be a reunion of sorts. The veteran quarterback spent two seasons in 2020 and 2021 as Baker Mayfield’s backup in Cleveland, playing in nine games and starting two.

Stefanski is quite familiar with Keenum, having been with him both with the Browns and the Minnesota Vikings.

“Yeah, we’ll see where that goes,” Stefanski said Monday. “Obviously, they’re a talented roster, so we’ll see. Case, specifically somebody that I’ve worked with over the years in two stops. Great person, excited to see him down there, and he’s a great quarterback. I mean, he’s won at every level, so we’ll see how the week goes. But obviously, Case is somebody I have a ton of respect for.”

Cleveland Browns run game non-existent against Chicago Bears
The Browns rushed for a season-low 29 yards on 18 carries Jerome Ford, who fought through a painful wrist from an injury suffered the week before, led the way with 20 yards on 8 tries.

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (34) runs the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Obviously, the offensive line injuries played a role in the struggles. Ford, though, isn’t worried Sunday’s performance will carry forward into the final three regular-season games.

“I guess they have a little effect, but I guess you could say that we got a run game, it isn’t, I guess, where it could be. We got new guys coming in, filling in, and they’re doing a good job. I just feel like, yeah, the run game might not be perfect, but we still able to win games. And I feel like the best stat at the end of a game is a W. So whether the run game is good or not, as long as we get the W, I feel like we’ll go with that.”