Browns news and notes, Week 12: No Joe Flacco among gameday elevations for Browns

DENVER — There will be no Joe Flacco in Denver.

The Browns elevated the maximum of two players from the practice squad to the gameday roster on Saturday in advance of Sunday's game at the Denver Broncos. However, the veteran quarterback signed to the practice squad on Monday was not one of them.

Instead, in order to deal with the injuries in the secondary, the Browns elected to elevate cornerback A.J. Green and safety Tanner McCalister. The former is a response to cornerback Denzel Ward being ruled out with a shoulder injury, while the latter is due to Rodney McLeod being placed on injured reserve earlier this week with a bicep injury and Juan Thornhill being questionable with the same calf injury that kept him out last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It's the first gameday elevation for both players, who have been on the practice squad all season. Green has appeared in 32 career games with two starts, while McCalister is an undrafted rookie out of Ohio State who has yet to appear in a game.

Flacco not being elevated means the Browns will only have two quarterbacks on the active roster Sunday. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start, while P.J. Walker will serve as his backup.

Jordan Kunaszyk activated from the injured reserve list

The Browns added some depth to their linebacking corps when Jordan Kunaszyk was activated from the injured reserve list. He had been on the list since injuring his knee in the final preseason game at the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kunaszyk appeared in 15 games with two starts last season with the Browns and led the team with 11 special teams tackles. He was designated for return on Wednesday.

Rodney McLeod fined by league office

Rodney McLeod was the lone Browns player to receive a fine for actions during the win over the Steelers. He was fined $7,319 for what the league deemed to be unnecessary roughness.

The play in question was a punt with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. McLeod was credited for the tackle on the punt.

Two Steelers were fined by the league. Alex Highsmith was fined $16,391 for his hit on Thompson-Robinson with 3:19 remaining in the third, while safety Patrick Peterson was fined $10,927 for unnecessary roughness with 6:17 left in the first quarter.

Thursday's Browns news and notes

Denzel Ward misses second consecutive practice, but Juan Thornhill returns

It's a case of perspective with the Browns injury report from Thursday's practice.

The glass-half-full perspective would look at the return of safety Juan Thornhill (calf) as a limited participant in practice after having been out since the Nov. 12 win at the Baltimore Ravens as a positive. So, too, would be the limited participation by safety Grant Delpit (thigh) after he sat out Wednesday's practice.

Of course, the glass-half-empty perspective would point out that cornerback Denzel Ward sat out his second consecutive practice with a shoulder injury. That would leave significant concerns about the status of Ward, who's played at an All-Pro level this season, for Sunday's game at the Denver Broncos.

Ward has not missed a game this season, despite a couple of scares over the course of the first three two-and-a-half months. He has two interceptions, a forced fumbles and 10 passes defensed.

Martin Emerson Jr. would start in Ward's place if he can't play. The Browns will provide a game status for Ward following Friday's practice.

Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. also remained sidelined with a hamstring injury he sustained in the second quarter of this past Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. So, too was receiver Marquise Goodwin, who has been out since sustaining a concussion in the Nov. 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Defensive end Za'Darius Smith was also absent for the second consecutive practice. It was listed as a personal reason.

Five players returned on a limited basis after missing practice on Wednesday: Thornhill, Delpit, left guard Joel Bitonio (rest/knee), defensive end Myles Garrett (rest/ankle) and tight end David Njoku (rest/knee). Right tackle Dawand Jones (knee) was a full practice participant, a good sign he'll be back in the starting lineup on Sunday.

Wednesday's Browns news and notes

Jordan Kunaszyk designated for return from injured reserve

Jordan Kunaszyk was one of the Browns better preseason performers. Then, in the final preseason game at the Kansas City Chiefs, the linebacker suffered a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Kunaszyk took a step toward getting back on the field on Wednesday when the Browns designated him for return from the injured reserve list. That opens up a 21-day practice window for him, during which time they can activate him to the active roster at any point.

With linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. battling a significant hamstring injury, that could come as soon as this week. The move would have to occur by 4 p.m. Saturday for Kunaszyk to be eligible to play Sunday at the Denver Broncos.

Kunaszyk, a fifth-year pro out of the University of California, appeared in 15 games for the Browns last season before missed the final two games with a hand injury that put him on injured reserve. He led the team with 11 special teams tackles, but started multiple games due to multiple season-ending injuries at the linebacker position.

Injured reserve not expected for Anthony Walker Jr.

Walker may or may not play in Denver. He certainly didn't practice on Wednesday.

However, head coach Kevin Stefanski was definitive when asked if Walker was seen as a potential candidate for injured reserve.

"No," Stefanski said Wednesday.

Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit among Browns players missing practice

The Browns had a lengthy list of players absent from practice on Wednesday. However, only about half of the 11 missing were due to injuries.

The most significant names among the injured included safeties Grant Delpit (thigh) and Juan Thornhill (calf), as well as cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder). Also out were receiver Marquise Goodwin (concussion) and Walker.

The other six not practicing were receiver Amari Cooper, left guard Joel Bitonio, defensive end Za'Darius Smith, defensive end Myles Garrett, tight end David Njoku and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Those six were all given rest days.

Browns sign veteran safety Duron Harmon to practice squad

The Browns made a move to add a little extra veteran depth at safety after placing Rodney McLeod on season-ending injured reserve, adding Duron Harmon to the practice squad.

Harmon is an 11-year pro who was originally a 2013 third-round pick of the New England Patriots out of Rutgers. He has appeared in 164 games with 79 with the Patriots (2013-19), Detroit Lions (2020), Atlanta Falcons (2021), Las Vegas Raiders (2022) and, this season, the Chicago Bears, where he made one start over three games played.

Harmon has recorded 397 career tackles, 23 interceptions, 43 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He has appeared in four Super Bowls and helped New England win three.

Joel Bitonio is Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominee

All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio was the Browns' nominee for the NFL's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, announced by the league on Wednesday.

The award, named after the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. It was created in 2014.

Each of the league's 32 teams nominate a player for the award. Nick Chubb was the Browns' nominee a year ago.

Two former Browns players currently on other AFC North teams were also nominated. Kevin Zeitler was the Baltimore Ravens' nominee, while Larry Ogunjobi was the selection for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A panel of former players − Warrick Dunn, Larry Fitzgerald, Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler − will select eight finalists, four from each conference, from the list. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote in December.

Monday/Tuesday Browns news and notes

Rodney McLeod on season-ending injured reserve with bicep injury

The Browns received another body blow on the injury front as a result of a play in Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced Monday that safety Rodney McLeod will have season-ending surgery for the bicep injury he sustained early in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.'s prognosis was a little bit better, as the coach said his hamstring injury is a "week-to-week" thing to monitor.

The Browns officially placed McLeod on injured reserve on Tuesday,

McLeod is just the latest tough injury pill for the Browns, who are 7-3 in spite of a litany of those issues. He is the fourth starter or significant backup who has sustained a season-ending injury since the regular season began.

"You guys know how I feel about Rodney," Stefanski said Monday. "Unbelievable leader for this football team, has played really well for us. He's really a guy that I've gotten to know over this year, and (defensive coordinator Jim) Schwartz had a history with Rod and a bunch of guys knew Rod prior to this season. But just watching that guy work, watching him in the meeting room on the practice field during the games, just amazing teammate.

"So I feel for him, but he'll get fixed up and then he'll be back out here helping his teammates."

The Browns lost right tackle Jack Conklin to a knee injury in the season opener against Cincinnati, then running back Nick Chubb to a knee injury in Week 2 at Pittsburgh. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was placed on injured reserve last week with a displaced fracture in the glenoid of his right shoulder that will require surgery.

Meanwhile, starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (MCL sprain) and rookie cornerback Cameron Mitchell (hamstring) each remain on injured reserve with opportunities to come off the list in December.

"It really starts with the young guys like myself in the room just observing and seeing how Rodney leads," cornerback Greg Newsome II said. "And it's not going to just be one person to feel his role. It'll be impossible for somebody to feel his role. But as a collective group, everybody has to find a way to chip in and become even more vocal leaders and everything like that. So, it's not going to be an easy task for sure, but I think we got the right guys in the building to be able to fulfill."

The injury to McLeod occurred with 11:09 remaining as he was trying to tackle Steelers running back Jaylen Warren at the end of a 21-yard run. Warren used a stiff-arm to throw McLeod off him, and it appeared the injury happened when he tried to brace himself as he hit the ground.

McLeod had 29 combined tackles and two tackles for loss, as well as a pass defensed in 10 games. The veteran started Sunday because of a calf injury that kept safety Juan Thornhill out against the Steelers.

Whether or not Thornhill can play this Sunday in Denver, which Stefansk said remains up in the air, the Browns are going to have to lean upon a younger player to take snaps at safety. The first two up are second-year pro D'Anthony Bell and undrafted rookie Ronnie Hickman.

"Yeah, we trust those guys," Stefanski said. "They've played for us. They've come in in big moments and played for us, so we'll see how it all shakes out. But no different than any position. We trust our backups that when they get in there, they have their job to do."

Anthony Walker Jr. hamstring injury could test linebacker depth

Walker sustained the hamstring injury on the first play of the second quarter while assisting on punt coverage. It's the second year in a row he has been injured when the Browns play the Steelers in Cleveland, as he suffered a season-ending torn quad tendon in last season's Week 3 win over Pittsburgh.

While this injury isn't seen as season-ending, Walker's absence will still require the Browns to dip into their linebacker depth. Along with starters Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Sione Takitaki, Tony Fields II received some snaps at linebacker.

A potential option actually sits on injured reserve. Jordan Kunaszyk has been on the injury list since suffering a knee injury in the final preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, although he's well past the point where he needs to be eligible.

"Obviously (Jordan) continues to rehab and then we'll see where that shakes out this week," Stefanski said.

David Njoku gets right to work fixing mistakes

David Njoku was unhappy with himself after Sunday's win. Although the tight end had seven catches for 56 yards, including a massive 11-yard gain to help set up the game-winning field goal, he also struggled with drops during the course of the day.

The performance, despite the catch at the end, had Njoku beating himself up in the locker room after the game. He called it "unacceptable" and said he was going to do something about fixing the issue.

"I'm about to go right home and catch these JUGS right now," Njoku said Sunday. "So like I said, it was a good victory, but it's back to work."

Turns out, Njoku wasn't lying.

"Yeah, I can confirm he hit the JUGS machine because he FaceTimed me from his house on the JUGS machine," Stefanski said. "We have a ton of confidence in Dave. We're going to continue to throw him the ball. He comes through for us. Obviously he's hard on himself. That was a pretty big 11-yard gain there at the end, so we're always going to go to Dave."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns news and notes, Week 12: Live updates on injury, roster moves