Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward questionable for Browns playoff opener after knee injury
BEREA — The story of the Browns regular season was injuries. And not just injuries, but injuries that occurred almost out of the blue.
The playoffs are starting the same way as the regular season. The Browns announced cornerback Denzel Ward is questionable for Saturday's AFC wild card game at the Houston Texans.
According to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, Ward sustained a knee injury during Thursday's practice. Stefanski would not expand on the injury, other than to say the Pro Bowl cornerback was "limited" in practice.
“It’s a lot of emotions that go through my mind," cornerback Greg Newsome II said Thursday. "He’s our leader, he’s one of arguably the best cornerbacks in the league. So it's definitely tough, but I know Denzel's a trooper and he's a fighter, so if he's able to go he'll be ready to go.”
Ward is one of four Browns players listed as questionable for the playoff opener, including one of three who play in the secondary. Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (calf) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf) were both questionable as well, along with running back Pierre Strong Jr. (back).
Safety Grant Delpit (groin) was officially ruled out for Saturday, meaning he will remain on the injured reserve list for this week. Also ruled out were wide receiver Cedric Tillman, who remains in concussion protocol, and kicker Dustin Hopkins (left hamstring).
Delpit was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday, which was the first day he was eligible to practice. Stefanski said there was no setback that led them to declare Delpit out, but the team wants to allow him more time to recover.
“Of course I wanted to play," Delpit said, "so it's just how my body's feeling and how I'm here. The doctor did a great job of my surgery and everybody in the training room has been working their tails off to give me back every day.”
Ward missed three consecutive games after sustaining a shoulder injury in a Week 11 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he returned in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears and played in three consecutive games before he, like most of the Browns' regulars, were held out of the regular-season finale at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ward, a Nordonia High School and Ohio State University product, was selected for the Pro Bowl for the third time this season. He had two interceptions, 11 passes defensed, a forced fumble and 34 combined tackles.
“Definitely tough, like you said, late, game coming up," Newsome said. "So it is definitely later in the week, it is a little more tough, but we're a resilient bunch. Once again, obviously we don't know whether he's able to go, whether he’s not able to go, but what I do know is Denzel's a fighter, he's been through a lot in his career and has fought back through a lot of stuff. So I know if he's able to go, he'll be able to go.”
During Ward's previous absence, second-year pro Martin Emerson Jr. started in his place in base coverage, with Newsome moving from inside to outside corner. In the three-corner looks, the Browns have used multiple players, sometimes due to other injuries, including Ford and rookies Cameron Mitchell and Kahlef Hailassie.
Mitchell would likely be option No. 1 to be the third corner against the Texans. Houston rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud led the NFL passing yards per game (273.9) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (23-to-5).
"We're battle tested so it helps," Newsome said, "but, I mean, it's still a burden without the best corner in the league on the field. So it's definitely going to be tough if he doesn't (play). Hopefully he's out there playing with us."
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: Denzel Ward questionable for Browns playoff opener with knee injury
