Next opponent: Don't expect major injuries to slow Browns down

The Steelers keep chugging along with a 6-3 record, and a victory this Sunday would keep them right in the running for first place in the AFC North. But, the Browns stand in the way of that goal this week. And despite the Browns being dealt another big blow due to injury, a win this week won't come easily. The Browns are still a good football team. And, after all, this is still an AFC North matchup. So, in the words of Mike Tomlin, they are back in the kitchen this week.

Here's a snapshot of what Cleveland brings into Week 11:

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Record: 6-3
Standing: Third, AFC North
Last result: Won over Ravens, 33-31

THE TREND

The Browns are the real deal. Their 24-3 victory over the Bengals in the season opener was no fluke. The Browns have been competitive in all but one week this season. These aren't the same ol' Browns. This is a very good football team.

A key gauge of how good this team is lies in their ability to overcome injuries to key players. They lost Jack Conklin, a two-time All-Pro right tackle, for the year in the season opener. They lost Nick Chubb, one of the best running backs in the NFL, for the season in the Steelers' first matchup with the Browns in Week 2. And now, starting quarterback Deshaun Watson is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

A lot of teams would crumble under such circumstances. Yet, the Browns are still 6-3, and they're doing it by not changing the way they play. They still run the football well, even after losing a player of Chubb's caliber. They still play tough, hard-nosed defense and excel in pass coverage. This is simply not an easy team to beat.

And, nothing motivates the Browns more than playing the hated Steelers. And now, they get to do it on their home field. A win for the Browns would put them at 7-3 and right in the mix for first place in the AFC North. They're not going to let health be a factor this week, despite having a lengthy injury report.

THE QUARTERBACK

With Watson out for the season, the Browns have two options at quarterback: Fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson or veteran P.J. Walker. For this matchup with the Steelers, head coach Kevin Stefanski is going with Thompson-Robinson.

"I just felt like, as you know, every week you’re trying to just make the best decisions you can for your team," Stefanski told Cleveland reporters this week. "I want to give him a week where he knows he’s the starter. He gets a full week of preparation."

Thompson-Robinson started one game in place of an injured Watson in Week 4, but didn't perform so well. He completed 19 of 36 passes for only 121 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions:

When Watson missed the Browns' Week 6 matchup with the then-undefeated 49ers, Stefanski opted for Walker at quarterback, and the Browns came away as the first team to beat what seemed to be an unbeatable San Francisco team. Walker also came in for an injured Watson the next week and helped lead the Browns to a road win over the Colts, then started the next week, but lost to the Seahawks on the road. While the Browns went 2-1 with Walker primarily at quarterback, he completed only 48 of 98 passes for 618 yards (6.3 yards per attempt), one touchdown, five interceptions and a 51.3 passer rating.

Stefanski going back to Thompson-Robinson may be a desire for better play within the system built around Watson. Like Watson, Thompson-Robinson is a true dual-threat quarterback. During his redshirt senior season at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson completed 266 of 382 passes for 3,169 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and added 645 yards on the ground and 12 rushing touchdowns. Stefanski says he's confident in Thompson-Robinson's growth in practice since his Week 4 start, so we'll have to see if that translates to Cleveland Browns Stadium this Sunday.

THE OFFENSE

Even without Chubb, the strength of Cleveland's offense resides in the running game. 

Jerome Ford has stepped in and done a commendable job in place of Chubb, though it is still obviously a step down. Ford has 124 carries for 532 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. However, the Steelers learned the hard way in Week 2 that Ford has the capability of hurting defenses at a moment's notice:

Chubb's injury forced the Browns' hand to deepen the running back room, and the team reunited with Kareem Hunt the next week. In his seven games with the Browns this season, Hunt has 70 carries for 228 yards and six touchdowns, which leads the team. Ford and Hunt are a good enough duo at running back to keep the strength of the Browns' offense going, and Ford also has the ability to add value as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 21 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

Of course, teams can't have an effective run game without a stout offensive line, and the Browns have one of the best in the game. Left guard Joel Bitonio is a two-time All Pro and the anchor of the unit. Right guard Wyatt Teller gives the Browns arguably the best guard tandem in football. Center Ethan Pocic is a solid piece as well. Rookie Dawand Jones -- a house at 6-foot-8, 374 pounds -- has stepped in for Conklin, and really held his own, especially in pass protection.

The Browns also have enough weapons in the passing game to keep defenses honest. Amari Cooper is the leader at receiver, and he's been a problem for the Steelers. He caught seven passes for 90 yards in Week 2. Elijah Moore can be used in the passing and running games, and he's becoming more and more involved on offense as his 42 touches is third on the team. David Njoku is also a handful at tight end, so the Steelers have plenty to keep them busy on top of what the running game can do.

THE DEFENSE

Under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the Browns have cleaned up quite a bit of stuff to become one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL.

Of course, everything starts up front with the edge rushers. Like it or not, Myles Garrett is one of the very best edge rushers and overall defenders in the game, and the Browns went out and added Za'Darius Smith to play opposite of Garrett. The Steelers know Smith from his days with the Ravens, and he's got three double-digit sack seasons under his belt. With the Browns, Smith has 2.5 sacks and is second to Garrett with 12 quarterback hits this season.

Dalvin Tomlinson has been a fine addition to the interior of the Browns' defensive front. Jordan Elliott has progressively worsened during his four-year career, but players such as Maurice Hurst and Shelby Harris have helped the quality of depth up front, thus making them much stronger in the middle than they were in 2022.

Just as it was in Week 2, the true strength of the Browns' defense lies in the hands of Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II at cornerback. When these two shut things down on the outside, it has massive ripple effects that make the whole Cleveland defense better. And, they have the ability to change the game in an instant with the dreaded "splash" plays, just as Newsome did in last week's comeback victory over the Ravens:

Safeties Juan Thornhill and Grant Delpit and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah have really helped improve the middle of the Browns' defense, along with some occasional solid play from other linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. and Sione Takitaki. Overall, the Browns' defense ranks second in the NFL with 4.5 yards per play allowed and are tied for fourth with 30 sacks. They also rank first with 242.7 total yards allowed per game, first with 151.1 passing yards allowed per game, fourth with 16.9 points allowed per game and seventh with 91.6 rushing yards allowed per game. This is a legitimate group that will really challenge the Steelers' offense.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS

Dustin Hopkins handles placekicking duties, and he's been accurate this season by hitting 88.9% of his kicks. His only misses have come in the 40- to 49-yard range. Corey Bojorquez is punting the ball well for the Browns, averaging 50.3 yards per punt. He can flip the field. Since Donovan Peoples-Jones was traded away, James Proche II handles punt return duties, and he's averaging 7.9 yards per return.

THE INJURY REPORT

• Deshaun Watson, QB (shoulder) -- Despite playing more than two quarters with a broken bone in his shoulder, Watson's season is over.

• David Bell, WR (knee) -- Bell's missed two straight games with his knee injury, but returned to the practice field as a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday, then practiced fully on Friday. He's cleared to play Sunday.

• Michael Dunn, G (calf) -- Dunn was designated to return from injured reserve on Wednesday, and was a full participant all week. Yet, he carries a "questionable" designation into Sunday. It's unsure whether he's done enough to be activated.

• Marquise Goodwin, WR (concussion) -- Goodwin suffered his concussion in Week 9, and has yet to return to the field since. He's ruled out.

• Dawand Jones, OT (knee) -- Jones missed last week's win over the Ravens, and did not practice on Wednesday. He was able to be a limited participant on Thursday and Friday, which gave the team enough confidence to at least consider him questionable for Sunday. If he can't go, Leroy Watson is the next option at right tackle.

• Greg Newsome II, CB (groin) -- Newsome missed action in Week 9, but returned last week and helped the Browns upset the Ravens with his first career interception. He was limited all week leading up to last Sunday, and he was limited again on Wednesday. But, he was a full participant on Thursday and Friday, and he doesn't carry any injury designation into Sunday.

• Ogbo Okoronkwo, DE (groin) -- He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, then participated fully on Friday. He's cleared to play, and is one of the depth options behind Garrett and Smith on the edge.

• Wyatt Teller, G (ankle) -- After being limited last week by a calf injury and playing through it last Sunday, an ankle injury kept him out of practice on Wednesday. He was able to return to practice as a full participant on Thursday and Friday, and is cleared to play Sunday. 

• Juan Thornhill, S (calf) -- Thornhill was injured in the win over the Ravens, and did not participate all week practice. Thus, the Browns ruled him out. Once again, Rodney McLeod will start in his stead.

• Denzel Ward, CB (neck) -- Ward left the Browns' win over the Ravens early last week, but returned to the practice field as a limited participant on Wednesday. He was then able to participate fully in practice on Thursday and Friday, earning clearance to play Sunday. The Browns are at full strength with their elite cornerback duo.

• Alex Wright, DE (knee) -- He was a limited participant on Wednesday, then fully practiced on Thursday and Friday. The Browns are at full strength with their edge depth behind Garrett and Smith.

QUOTABLE

"Yeah, again, that’s why you can’t predict it because you don’t even try to. But I’ve said it a thousand times, greatest team sport there is. That’s what I love about this game. I love the challenge. We love those guys, but the reality is that they’re out for the season and we trust the guys that are going to be in their spots." -- Kevin Stefanski on dealing with season-ending injuries to multiple key players

"Yeah, offense getting healthy, a lot of guys coming back for them. Like you said, Jaylen Warren picking up. The run game is really picking up. I think they had over 200 yards last week, so we understand what type of game this is going to be. Like I said, the quarterback has gotten better, they’ve gotten healthier, so the offense overall has gotten better." -- Anthony Walker on how the Steelers look different since Week 2

"Right now the Steelers mean the most. It’s the next game and we’re excited to play them. Big rivalry and we’re looking forward to play a hard game, get the job done." -- Jerome Ford on Steelers week being most important because it's the next game on the schedule