Browns news and notes, Week 6: Joel Bitonio's consecutive regular-season game streak ends

BEREA — Michael Dunn will start Sunday for the Browns at left guard. However, not even Dunn himself believes he'll be in the lineup when the San Francisco 49ers come to Cleveland.

That's how much of a fixture All-Pro Joel Bitonio has been at that spot over the last six-plus seasons. Until Sunday, that is, when he will be sidelined while he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery.

"No matter what, I'm always convinced Joel was going to get out there," Dunn said Friday. "I still don't believe that he's not going to be out there until Sunday at 1. He's a warrior."

Bitonio has started 102 consecutive regular-season games since ending the 2016 season on the injured reserve list. The only game, regular season or postseason, in that span he missed was the Browns' AFC Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2021.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Bitonio underwent the procedure on the knee during the team's bye week. Before that week, he had been on the team's injury report leading into an Oct. 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but was listed with an ankle injury.

Bitonio's absence means Dunn will make what is officially his sixth career start in 33 games since signing with the Browns in 2020. He started in Bitonio's place when he missed the playoff game because of COVID.

"I prepare the same way every single week, backup or starting," Dunn said. "Been here for a few years now and kind of just know the process as we don't really have any backup offensive linemen. Basically, you go into every game like you're starting. So my mentality and philosophy going into the game has not changed whatsoever."

Rookie receiver Cedric Tillman ruled out with hip injury

The Browns' top draft pick from April will miss his first game of the season. Rookie receiver Cedric Tillman was ruled out with a hip injury.

Tillman, who has one catch for 5 yards in four games, first appeared on the Browns' injury report Thursday. He missed practice both Thursday and Friday.

The former University of Tennessee product was taken in the third round with the 74th overall pick of April's draft.

Ethan Pocic battling through knee injury, expected to play

Center Ethan Pocic left the stadium after the loss to the Ravens with a brace on his right knee and crutches in his hands. He'll likely be walking back into it for the 49ers game ready to start.

Pocic was officially listed as questionable by the Browns for Sunday's game. However, he at least practiced on a limited basis throughout the week.

Stefanski sounded confident Pocic would be in the starting lineup against San Francisco.

"Yeah, he battled," Stefanski said. "I'm thinking he's going to make it, but we'll see how he goes over the next 48 (hours). But he battled."

Thursday's Browns news and notes

Joel Bitonio, David Njoku miss second practice

The Browns had two big-name players once again absent from practice Thursday. That doesn't even include quarterback Deshaun Watson.

All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio and tight end David Njoku weren't on the field when the Browns continued preparations for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Neither has practiced this week, although there's still some hope for both to play.

Bitonio has been sidelined with a knee issue that arose after the Browns' Oct. 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was seen leaving the team facility on crutches at one point during the team's bye week, although he has not been seen in the locker room during the portion open to the media at all this week.

Thursdays are typically the day Bitonio speaks to the media every game week. He did not do so this week.

The 2014 second-round pick hasn't missed a regular-season snap since the start of the 2017 season, a span of 102 consecutive regular-season games. The only game he's missed in that time was the Browns' AFC Wild Card Game win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2021.

"Yeah, I mean, we're going to next-man-up mentality," offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Thursday. "As you know, if he doesn't make it, then we'll fill a spot. Anytime you miss a Pro Bowl player, obviously it's a big hole to fill, but we'll do a good job getting the guys ready if he's not available."

Michael Dunn would be the expected replacement for Bitonio if he can't play.

Njoku, meanwhile, continues to recover from the burns to his face and arm that occurred due to a fire pit accident on the Friday before the Ravens game. The tight end did play in the game, catching six passes for 46 yards.

"Says a lot about him," wide receiver Amari Cooper said. "Showed a lot of toughness on his part, 100%. There are a lot of players who definitely would not have played with that happening to them less than 48 hours before the game, and for good reason. But I was actually surprised when he played as well. But it says a lot about his toughness."

Njoku has not spoken to the media since the accident. However, he has been seen in the locker room several times over the course of this week.

Rookie receiver Cedric Tillman was working to the side with a trainer during Thursday's practice. He was listed as having a hip injury on the injury report.

Wednesday's Browns news and notes

Joel Bitonio, Myles Garrett, David Njoku miss practice

Deshaun Watson's absence from Wednesday's practice was the headline. However, also missing for the Browns were three other key starters critical to any success they hope to have Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Left guard Joel Bitonio, defensive end Myles Garrett and tight end David Njoku also were absent from practice due to injuries. For those keeping track, that would be nine combined Pro Bowl and four All-Pro selections between the first two, and one of the Browns' top pass catchers in the last one.

Bitonio was sidelined with a knee injury. He had previously been battling an ankle issue prior to the Oct. 1 loss to the Ravens, although this injury is not believed to be game-related.

"Yeah, day to day," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Doing better. We'll see how he goes throughout this week."

Garrett left the stadium following the Ravens game in a walking boot after injuring his foot. Stefanski said Wednesday's missed practice was "precautionary" in nature.

Njoku continues to recover from burns to his face and arm after a firepit accident the Friday preceding the Ravens game. Despite the injuries, he played in the game, leading the team with six catches for 46 yards.

"It's a serious injury, as you guys know, so he's working through it," Stefanski said. "He's not ready yet to participate in practice. We'll see how this goes over the next couple of days."

Kyle Shanahan 'really liked living' in Cleveland while Browns offensive coordinator

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan spent one season on the Browns coaching staff under Mike Pettine in 2014. He was the offensive coordinator on that staff, which also featured future Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as the receivers coach.

Shanahan's time with the franchise famously came to a head when he gave Pettine a list of 32 problematic reasons within the organization as a way to get himself out of his three-year contract one year into the deal. Part of his issue was his belief that the coaching staff was being forced to start Johnny Manziel at quarterback.

Pettine would eventually let Shanahan out of his deal, where he would eventually be hired to the same position by the Atlanta Falcons. After helping the Falcons reach the Super Bowl 54, the 49ers hired him to be their head coach in 2017.

Shanahan was asked during his Wednesday press conference about his recollections on his time in Northeast Ohio

"Um … um, I really liked living out there," Shanahan told Bay Area reporters Wednesday. "There's some good people. It was cold, my car was always dirty because snow was on the ground a lot. It's never melted it seemed like. But I really enjoyed the stadium, I enjoyed the people. It was just one year, though. It wasn't very long."

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Monday's Browns news and notes

Ball security critical with 49ers swarming defense coming to town

The list of items Andrew Berry said during his bye-week news conference he wanted to see the Browns improve was topped by one thing. Check that, it was one thing, just multiplied several times over.

"No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 would be ball security," Berry said last Wednesday.

The Browns went back to work on their season after the break on Monday. They do so having gone into the bye week with 10 turnovers, which was tied at the time with the Las Vegas Raiders for the second-most in the league.

They have an equal number of interception thrown (five) and fumbles lost (five). The Browns are minus-7 in the turnover margin with just three takeaways.

“Well, I think it's the best stat there is when it comes to winning and losing because it involves everybody," coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. It's not just an offensive stat, it's an offense, defense, special teams stat. So it's so important as you look at these games, and you look like I was sitting on the couch watching these games, it's everything when you're talking about giving it away or taking it away. So we need to be better."

That's going to be extra important with the San Francisco 49ers coming to Cleveland for Sunday's game. The 49ers have created nine takeaways in five games, while only turning it over twice.

On Sunday night, San Francisco forced four Dallas Cowboys turnovers in a 42-10 win.

"Anybody who touches that rock, do everything in their power to gain yards while maintaining ball security and then getting the ball on defense and special teams, opportunities for us to get the ball," Stefanski said. "So major point of emphasis, and then it goes back to just not the point of emphasis but technique. And that's what we worked on today, whether center-quarterback exchange or a running back running through and getting the ball knocked, trying to knock it free or with our (defensive backs) working to knock the ball out.

"So it goes back to not just the mentality, not just the emphasis, but also technique."

Kevin Stefanski looks at different ways to handle bye

The bye week came very early in the season for the Browns this year compared to past seasons. That doesn't mean Stefanski didn't try to learn from previous bye weeks and what they did during those.

"I mean, you look at everything, yes," Stefanski said. "You look at different meetings that you have, different things that you do with the players, but I think every year is so different when the bye is so different also. So, yes, we changed things here and there, but not to say that it's wholesale."

The Browns had their bye week in Week 9 last season, which they entered at 3-5 and coming off a "Monday Night Football" rout of the Cincinnati Bengals. They came out of the bye and were beaten down 39-17 at the Miami Dolphins and then 31-23 by the Buffalo Bills in the two games after the break.

Stefanski is 2-1 coming out of the bye as Browns coach.

Jordan Kunaszyk 'getting really close' to return from injured reserve

The Browns could be getting some linebacker help soon. Maybe even as early as this week.

Jordan Kunaszyk is eligible to return from the injured reserve list this week. He sustained a knee injury during the preseason finale at the Kansas City Chiefs while covering a kickoff.

Stefanski wouldn't say whether or not he expected Kunaszyk to return in time to face the 49ers.

"Yeah, I'm not sure about this week," Stefanski said. "He's getting really close. Another guy that's working very hard, but we'll see how the rest of this week goes."

Sione Takitaki no stranger to 49ers linebacker Fred Warner

Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki won't have to personally face San Francisco's All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner on Sunday. However, if anyone could provide a breakdown of Warner's game, it would be Takitaki.

"I actually played with Fred at BYU, so that's my dude, man," Takitaki said. "He's a baller. Very smart player who's really disciplined, and (Dre) Greenlaw is obviously physical and those guys just fly around to the ball. I feel like the scheme fits them well and they've been putting it on tape year after year, so excited to see those guys in action, too. It'll be good."

Warner, who is actually younger in age than Takitaki, was selected in the third round (No. 70 overall) of the 2018 draft. Takitaki was taken in the third round (No. 80 overall) in the 2019 draft.

Despite being older by a year, Takitaki acknowledged learning from his younger teammate.

"Just the biggest thing, he was a real disciplined guy, you know what I mean?" Takitaki said. "At a time where you are 18, 19, kind of learning things, I feel like he was just very mature for his age in college. It's definitely paying off."

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: Cleveland Browns news and notes, Week 6: Daily live updates