CLEVELAND — 3:02 p.m.-Ward, Williams to return for Browns
The Cleveland Browns will have half of their starting secondary back on the field when they take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts later this afternoon.
After missing four consecutive games because of hamstring injuries, cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams will make their long-awaited return to the starting lineup.
Both Williams and Ward were full participants in practice throughout the week after sitting out losses to the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, as well as a road win over the AFC North Division-leading Baltimore Ravens.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Ward has registered seven total tackles, four solo stops and three assists, in his second season. Williams, whom the Browns traded up to select in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of LSU, has made five total tackles with four solo stops and one assist in his first two games.
Although the Browns got good news with Williams and Ward, starting safety Damarious Randall will not play today because of a hamstring injury.
Along with Randall, the Browns deactivated wide receivers Taywan Taylor and Damion Ratley, safety Sheldrick Redwine, defensive end Chris Smith, offensive tackle Kendall Lamm and defensive tackle Eli Ankou.
3:00 p.m.-Browns return from bye week to play at Patriots
The Cleveland Browns (2-4) return from their annual bye week break and face one of the Nation Football League’s best teams, the undefeated New England Patriots (7-0), at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts today.
For two weeks, the Browns have heard all about the struggles of the team following their inconsistent start to the 2019 season, especially after surrendering a double-digit lead in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 13.
But with one win this week against the Patriots would not only cure a lot of ills, but also, change the narrative into a positive one.
“They’re ranked one or two in the league and they move the ball as well as anybody,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “Their defense is playing with their hair on fire. So if we’re able to move the ball on them and stop them from moving the ball, it proves that we are for real and that we can put this thing together.”
Quarterback Baker Mayfield added, “It could be huge for us. Coming off the bye week and the momentum it could have for us going forward for the rest of the season and this long stretch we have, it could be huge for us.”