Burning Questions for Week 8 vs. Bengals

2. What`s the scenario at tight cease?

One of the most important harm losses the Browns could have Monday is at tight cease, in which David Njoku has been dominated out because of an ankle harm suffered closing week.

That way third-yr vet Harrison Bryant will step into the pinnacle tight cease function. He’s stuck 14 passes on 21 goals this season for 114 yards and has but to locate the cease region, even though he may be greater of a purple region goal for Brissett with Njoku out.

Week 8 vs. Bengals

“My purpose each week is to be organized to have an elevated function due to the fact in phrases of a sport,” Bryant said. “You in no way recognise who’s going to head down or what can transpire. Every week, I’m making ready to ought to play each snap.”

Bryant’s function should develop even large if Pharaoh Brown, who became dominated questionable because of a concussion, is not able to play. Brown is the handiest different energetic TE at the list, so the Browns might probably increase Miller Forristall or Zaire Mitchell-Paden from the exercise squad if Brown is out.

Bryant has had fulfillment towards the Bengals earlier than. His high-quality profession sport got here towards them in 2020, while he totaled a profession-excessive fifty six yards and stuck touchdowns, the handiest multi-landing sport of his profession. The Browns might gladly take a overall performance like that once more.

“Oftentimes, he is now no longer the No. 1 goal withinside the tight cease room simply due to the men who’ve been in that room earlier than him,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. “He can be the pinnacle man if the ones different do now no longer make it to the sport on Sunday. Excited for him. He works as difficult as anybody. A honestly clever man at the soccer field, has honestly proper instincts and awareness, catches the ball properly and offers you the whole thing he has withinside the run sport.”

3. How a whole lot will the Bengals omit Chase?

The largest information in advance of Monday became that Pro Bowl Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase might omit more than one video games because of a hip harm.

Chase, the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year, had unsurprisingly been Burrow’s pinnacle weapon once more this season and stuck touchdowns in every of the closing weeks earlier than the harm. The lack of Chase is huge for the Bengals, however it is now no longer like they haven’t any different dependable weapons — Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are truely able to filling the void.

When requested how Chase’s loss would possibly effect Burrow, Garrett responded with “none.”

“I assume he’s going to play precisely the equal,” he said. “He nevertheless has quite a few talent men he can get the ball to in quite a few ways. I recognise he’s going to actually omit his presence withinside the offense, however he’s going to nevertheless be capable of open up and throw in a number of the equal routes and ideas due to the fact there are a whole lot of gifted receivers they have.”

Boyd and Higgins have every totaled 455 receiving yards this season. Boyd stuck a profession-excessive a hundred and fifty five yards closing week towards the Falcons.

4. What different key gamers are banged up?

The Browns may also be down RG Wyatt Teller (calf) and CB Denzel Ward (concussion), who had been each dominated out. Teller will omit his 2nd instantly sport, even as Ward will omit his third. CBs Greg Newsome II and Greedy Williams also are dominated questionable, even though each gamers had been constrained in exercise Friday. Williams overlooked the primary exercise days, and Newsome became constrained all week.

LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah did now no longer exercise this week because of a knee harm and is dominated questionable. After a effective overall performance closing week with six tackles and byskip breakups towards the Ravens, Owusu-Koramoah might be a massive absence for a Browns protection that desires as many pinnacle gamers as feasible to gradual the Bengals.

On the Bengals side, the most important absence on protection can be 340-pound protecting address Josh Tupou (calf). Starting CB Eli Apple (hamstring) has additionally been dominated doubtful.