Browns Get Mixed Injury News on Star Defenders

The Cleveland Browns will be looking to gain an edge in the AFC North when they suit up against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football in Week 3. It's expected to be a low-scoring battle, which makes the mixed injury news on two of Cleveland's top defensive playmakers significant.

Cleveland Browns Injury News

All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett originally popped up on the injury report after missing practice on Tuesday with a neck issue. The good news is that even on a short week, he has worked through it and will be active against Pittsburgh. His leadership on defense cannot be overstated at this point.

It's not all good news, though. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will not play on Thursday due to an ankle injury. It's not a shocking outcome given he did not practice at all this week, but it's a notable loss nevertheless considering the 29-year-old has accounted for a quarter of the team's sacks so far (1.5).

It's not going to be easy to replace Clowney's production, but the Browns have some depth along the defensive line. 2022 third-round pick Alex Wright is expected to see increased snaps and has shined in pass coverage. Rookie Isaiah Thomas could be given an opportunity to impress as well.

Cleveland has also ruled out defensive end Chase Winovich and tight end Jesse James, so head coach Kevin Stefanski will need some players to step up in this divisional rivalry game in primetime. Even with all the injuries, the Browns are still favored by 3.5 points at home on FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL odds.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.