PITTSBURGH — 11:40 a.m.-Browns expected to start Justin McCray in place of Greg Robinson
The Cleveland Browns are looking to complete a regular-season sweep of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time since 1988 with today’s game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, but they will go for the victory without the services of three starters.
Left tackle Greg Robinson (NFL Concussion Protocol) and safeties Eric Murray (knee) and Damarious Randall (coach’s decision) were among the Browns’ seven inactives for the game against the Steelers.
Additionally, the Browns deactivated wide receiver Taywan Taylor, defensive end Chris Smith, guard Drew Forbes and tight end Pharaoh Brown.
In place of Robinson, the Browns are expected to start versatile lineman Justin McCray at left tackle to protect quarterback Baker Mayfield’s blindside, while rookie Sheldrick Redwine is expected to start in place of Randall in an already depleted defensive backfield.
Running back Nick Chubb, long snapper Charley Hughlett, linebackers Christian Kirksey and Adarius Taylor, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and Mayfield will serve as Browns captains for the game.
11:15 a.m.-Browns looking to rewrite history in Pittsburgh
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers did not have much time to process how the first meeting of the season went between the teams, as just 17 days after meeting in a game that was memorable for all of the wrong reasons.
Less than three weeks after a fight between the teams cost Browns defensive end Myles Garrett at least the balance of the season and nearly three dozen players some kind of fine, the Browns and Steelers will renew their rivalry, this time at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh today.
“It’s either you or the team. Make a decision. That’s it,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said prior to Wednesday’s practice.
“We want to be tough and we want to play smart because that’s what usually wins football games. That entails a lot of different things, and that’s just one aspect of it. You have to put it all together to be successful, and sometimes, when you have younger guys, it takes them a little time to put it together, and I think we’re starting to see some of those examples that they can focus and just concentrate on the task at hand.”
Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Joe Schobert (53) returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
AP
Recent history has not been good to the Browns when it comes to their AFC North Division rivalry against the Steelers.
The Browns have beaten the Steelers just seven times since returning to the National Football League in 1999 after a three-year hiatus, and that is a trend Cleveland’s players are very much looking forward to reversing by sweeping the season series for the first time since 1988.
“I always knew there was a rivalry, and Pittsburgh, I’m sure, always felt they were the big brother of the relationship,” wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said. “I think it’s saying ‘Enough is enough.’ We’re over here to be a part of something that’s different than what’s in the past and to be the more physical team and to be the one that comes out on top.”
Running back Nick Chubb added, “In order to make it a rivalry, we’ve got to win more games, like you said, they’ve won more in the past, so it’s probably a rivalry to us, but not to them, and we’ve got to continue to win games so we can get up there with them.”