'You want your ace out there': Browns defense eager for Denzel Ward's return from injury

BEREA — Earlier this season, Martin Emerson Jr. revealed he has closely observed fellow Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and adopted some of his habits.

As a rookie last year, Emerson noticed Ward was the only Browns player who wore a helmet during walk-through practices. Emerson hopes to reach Ward's Pro Bowl-caliber level, so he copied the helmet ritual, which Ward later explained is his way of ensuring he's focused during walk through.

The Browns are eager to benefit from Ward's intangibles and production again on game day.

Ward has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury he suffered Nov. 19 while attempting a tackle in a 13-10 home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ohio State and Nordonia High School product returned to practice Wednesday and participated on a limited basis Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

It's a sign Ward is on track to play Sunday when the Browns (7-5) face the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) in a crucial AFC matchup on Cleveland's lakefront. On Friday, the Browns listed Ward as questionable for the game.

“Denzel Ward's one of the best DBs in the game,” linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. told the Beacon Journal after Thursday's practice at Browns headquarters. “Anytime you don't have him on the field, obviously, it's not the same.

“You've got guys that can step up and play good football, but Denzel Ward is an elite corner in the NFL. So it's like not having your ace, right? You have guys that can fill in and all that stuff. You can still get the job done, but you want your ace out there whenever you have that chance.”

Ward, 26, wants to be on the field, too. Without him, the Browns have lost each of their past two games, and the performance of the Cleveland defense has plummeted partly because of the ripple effect caused by his absence.

“I try to be that spark and be that big energy and playmaking guy out there as best as I can and doing whatever I can to help my team win,” Ward said. “So it's been hard for me [to be sidelined].

“I want to be there, so [I've been] feeling like I've been kind of letting [my teammates] down, but [I'm] just trying to fight to get back out there with the other guys. That's the goal.”

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward's return could coincide with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence pushing through a high ankle sprain

The fourth overall draft pick in 2018, Ward is tied for 44th among 119 qualifying cornerbacks in ProFootballFocus.com's rankings this season. He has allowed a passer rating of just 26.8 in single coverage, according to PFF.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Ward said he thinks 2023 is one of his better seasons, especially in man-to-man coverage.

Emerson, a third-round choice last year, called Ward “a franchise corner” and said he would provide the Browns with “a great boost” upon his return to action.

“[He's] one of the vocal leaders on the defense and a guy that comes in and does his job and just leads by example,” Emerson said. “So if we get Denzel back and he's ready to roll Sunday, that's going to be huge for us.”

Ward's presence would be even more important for the Browns if Jaguars starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence were to play despite suffering a high ankle sprain Monday night in a 34-31 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Lawrence returned to practice Thursday and was limited Thursday and Friday. The Jaguars listed Lawrence as questionable for Sunday. His backup, C.J. Beathard, was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a shoulder injury but fully participated Friday.

Ward and Emerson said the Browns defense is gearing up for Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021.

“He's able to make any pass on the field, got a very strong arm, goes through his progressions,” Ward said of Lawrence. “He's got playmakers on that side of the ball. He's just a high-caliber quarterback in this league.”

How the Browns defense has struggled without two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward

Filling the void created by Ward's shoulder injury has been difficult for the Browns.

Cornerbacks Greg Newsome II, Mike Ford Jr. and Kahlef Hailassie were thrust into different roles and exploited at times during consecutive setbacks, a 29-12 loss Nov. 26 at the Denver Broncos and a 36-19 defeat Sunday at the Los Angeles Rams.

“I know the team needs me, and I just want to be out there with them, out there fighting with them and trying to fight for the playoffs,” Ward said.

Rush and coverage rely on one another, so it's also worth noting a defensive line led by four-time Pro Bowl selection Myles Garrett has failed to register a sack in back-to-back games.

Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah sacked Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson once, but the Browns failed to sack Rams quarterback Matt Stafford. In other words, the Browns, as a whole, have tallied just one sack in the past two games with the opposing QBs combining for 62 drop-backs, according to PFF. In the meantime, the Cleveland defense has registered 32 pressures.

“He's just a really good player and was playing at a really, really high level,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said of Ward. “And anytime you take a player like that away from you or away from your group, there's going to be some adjustments.

“We don't have any excuses. Our standard is the same regardless of who's playing. But excuses and reasons are different things, right? And Denzel means an awful lot to us.”

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward explains his mindset about extensive injury history

Ward has compiled 29 tackles, a forced fumble, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed in 10 games this season.

Whenever Ward is available to play, he is usually among the top cornerbacks in the league. It's why the Browns signed him to a five-year, $100.5 million contract extension in 2022.

But Ward has also endured a long list of injuries in his six professional seasons.

“That's football,” Ward said. “I think I just compare it to life. Everything's not going to be perfect in life, and things are going to happen, but it's about how you respond and how you overcome it. So I take a lot of pride in being able to fight back and, regardless of the circumstance, being able to come back and execute at a high level.”

Of the 96 games the Browns have played during Ward's Cleveland tenure, he has appeared in 77 of them and missed 19. The totals account for the team's two playoff games during the 2020 season. Three of the games Ward missed were because of COVID-19 protocols. The other 16 were due to concussions and hamstring, calf and shoulder injuries.

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Since the Browns drafted Ward, he has suffered four documented concussions, including one during the Aug. 26 preseason finale in Kansas City.

“I've had a few concussions, but I'm not too worried about that,” Ward said. “I did my research and everything on that and overcome those and hurt my shoulder a little bit, but that's just how the game goes sometimes.

“It's definitely not going to affect the way I play the game. I feel like when I'm out there, I just do what I can to help my team win, and that's playing fast and physical and being who I am.”

Who exactly is he? Well, you heard it from Walker — the Browns consider Ward an ace.

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns eager for Denzel Ward to return from injury vs. Jaguars