Browns news and notes, Week 9: Greg Newsome II ruled out for Browns against Cardinals

BEREA — The Browns will be without a key defensive starter when they play host to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Cornerback Greg Newsome II was officially ruled out by the Browns on Friday afternoon. Newsome has been dealing with a groin injury that forced him out in the second quarter of last Sunday's 24-20 loss at the Seattle Seahawks.

Second-year pro Martin Emerson Jr. will start in Newsome's spot in the base two-cornerback looks. Rookie cornerback Cameron Mitchell will play the nickelback position, which was Newsome's primary role when the Browns went to their three-corner looks.

"He's given us some good reps already and obviously he's been ready in a pinch if need be," head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday of Mitchell. "But very smart player, plays with a savviness of young players. When you play nickel, you have to understand route combinations and run blocking and I think he's got a really good feel for that for a young player."

Receiver David Bell and defensive end Alex Wright, both of whom missed the entire week of practice with knee injuries, were also ruled out. Offensive tackle Dawand Jones was listed as questionable.

If Jones can't play, James Hudson III would start in his place.

"Yeah, we'll see," Stefanski said of Jones' status. "I don't know that I'm figured out yet if we're going to work him out, but we'll see how it goes over the next 48 hours."

Thursday's Browns news and notes

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon downplays Cleveland homecoming

Jonathan Gannon will be coming home when the Arizona Cardinals travel to play at the Browns on Sunday. However, the Cleveland native and St. Ignatius High School graduate is trying his best to not make that much of a deal out of the homecoming.

“It’s the most important one because it’s the next one," Gannon told Phoenix area reporters Wednesday.

Gannon is in his first season with the Cardinals, who are off to a 1-7 start. He grew up in the Old Brooklyn area of Cleveland before going to high school at St. Ignatius.

So, exactly how many friends and family does Gannon expect to have in the stands for his first game as a head coach back in his hometown?

“I don’t know," Gannon said. "I told them don’t bug me.”

Gannon was a part of state championship teams while at St. Ignatius in football (1999), basketball (2001) and track and field (2001). He was an All-Ohio defensive back who went on to the University of Louisville, where a knee injury cut short his playing career.

His dismissive tone toward questions about coaching against his home-town team doesn't mean Gannon isn't going to find a way to get back to his high school alma mater. While he acknowledged St. Ignatius' focus was elsewhere besides just his homecoming, he also hinted at the Cardinals taking advantage of Gannon's connections at the school to utilize their facilities while in Northeast Ohio.

“They’re playing Canton McKinley in the playoffs, so I don’t really think they care," Gannon said. "I know that because I talked to the head coach making sure that the schedule was set. We’ve got a little something going on over there, but he’s focused on his ball club, not me.”

Dawand Jones, David Njoku, Jedrick Wills Jr. among practice returnees

The Browns had a lengthy list of players who did not practice Wednesday. That list was significantly shorter on Thursday.

Receiver Marquise Goodwin was the new addition, as he was not on the field at all due to an illness. However, cornerback Greg Newsome II (groin), receiver David Bell (knee) and defensive end Alex Wright (knee) all were working to the side with a trainer.

The most significant returnees to the field included offensive tackles Dawand Jones (shoulder) and Jedrick Wills Jr. (foot, ankle), as well as tight end David Njoku (ankle). Several others, including defensive ends Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith, receiver Amari Cooper, linebacker Sione Takitaki and left guard Joel Bitonio, were back after being given a rest day Wednesday.

Browns sign offensive tackle Leroy Watson from 49ers practice squad

The Browns brought in a little bit of insurance at the offensive tackle position on Thursday when they signed offensive tackle Leroy Watson.

Watson has spent this season on the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers. The 6-foot-5, 311-pounder was originally signed last season by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Texas-San Antonio.

The addition of Watson adds depth to the tackle position where both starters — Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. — have battled injuries recently, although it appears the shoulder injury Jones sustained against the Seattle Seahawks may be the more significant one. He left the game early in the third quarter, but did return later.

"He's dealing with something now, but I think he feels OK right at this point," offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said of Jones. "We'll see again day to day with him, but I think you should have a chance."

Wills played the entire Seattle game with a foot and ankle injury that had him listed as questionable going into the game. James Hudson III was the only other tackle on the active roster before Watson's addition.

Wednesday's Browns news and notes

'No hard feelings' for Kareem Hunt, Kevin Stefanski

Kareem Hunt was a frustrated running back in the Browns locker room immediately after their loss at the Seattle Seahawks.

"I didn’t get a chance to whole fourth quarter, so it's cool," Hunt said after the game. "I don't know. I just go and play my role. That’s what I do."

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski heard Hunt's words. Although he wouldn't get into the specifics, he made it known he and the veteran running back would talk.

That conversation was had between Monday and Wednesday. Listening to Hunt, it appears bygones will be bygones.

"Yeah, we talked a little bit and it's no hard feelings," Hunt said Wednesday. "We both, we want to win."

Hunt rushed for 55 yards on 14 carries against Seattle. However, his final rushing attempt came with 3:36 remaining in the third quarter.

When the Browns found themselves in a pivotal third-and-3 situation with 2:04, Hunt was on the sideline. Quarterback P.J. Walker instead threw a pass that ricocheted off safety Jamal Adams' helmet and into the hands of safety Julian Love.

"Yeah, I don't really know why," Hunt said, "but we're moving on. We ready to find a way to win this next game."

Kevin Stefanski optimistic Za'Darius Smith will play against Cardinals

One of the biggest injury mysteries to emerge from the loss to Seattle involved defensive end Za'Darius Smith, who left the field with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter and, despite returning to the game, had X-rays taken afterward.

The Browns never disclosed Smith's exact injury either Sunday or during Stefanski's day-after Zoom call Monday. On Wednesday, Stefanski finally acknowledged it was a neck injury to the three-time Pro Bowler, but did not seem concerned about his availability Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

"I'd say we'll just rest him," Stefanski said. "But I feel good about Za'Darius."

Greg Newsome II, Dawand Jones among names on lengthy Browns injury report

Smith was among 10 Browns players who did not practice Wednesday. He was among four — along with receiver Amari Cooper, left guard Joel Bitonio and defensive end Myles Garrett — who had rest listed as their reason for not being on the field.

Also not practicing were receiver David Bell (knee), right tackle Dawand Jones (shoulder), cornerback Greg Newsome II (groin), tight end David Njoku (ankle), left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (foot, ankle) and defensive end Alex Wright (knee).

Strong connections between Browns, Cardinals coaching staffs

There will be a lot of familiar faces for the Browns when they look over at the Cardinals coaching staff. Of course, it starts with head coach Jonathan Gannon, who is a Cleveland native and St. Ignatius High School graduate.

Gannon and Stefanski coached together in Minnesota from 2014-17. Gannon was the assistant defensive backs coach/quality control, while Stefanski was in a variety of offensive position coach roles in that span.

Specific to the Browns, though, is Arizona offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork. Petzing spent both 2020 and last season as the Browns' quarterbacks coach after having coached tight ends in 2021, while Woolfork was the team's Bill Willis Coaching Fellow last season.

Stefanski was jokingly asked Wednesday if Petzing had called to let him know whether Kyler Murray or Clayton Tune was starting at quarterback for the Cardinals.

"I haven't checked my phone," Stefanski said. "Not yet."

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 9: Greg Newsome II ruled out vs. Cardinals