NFL NEWS

Battered Browns prepare for Falcons

The Sports Xchange

November 19, 2014 at 4:06 pm.

Karlos Dansby (56) may not play versus Atlanta this weekend. (Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)

BEREA, Ohio — A rash of injuries to the defensive front seven could make it difficult for the Cleveland Browns to stay in the race for the AFC North title.

The Browns play the Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta, and that means facing running back Stephen Jackson, who has rushed for 467 yards and four touchdowns on 128 carries this season. He has 14 catches for 80 yards.

Cleveland’s starting inside linebacker, Karlos Dansby, suffered a knee injury against the Houston Texans on Nov. 16. On Monday, coach Mike Pettine feared Dansby could miss up to a month, but on Wednesday, Pettine held out hope Dansby could make a miraculous recovery and play against the Falcons. Dansby did not practice Wednesday.

“Knowing (Dansby) and how in tune he is with his body and how he has already attacked this situation in the rehab — usually (trainer) Joe (Sheehan) is very conservative — I might rule him out tomorrow, but I’m not going to do it today,” Pettine said. “I don’t think the possibility is high, but there’s still a possibility.”

Initial reports from Pettine indicated outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard could be out for the season after suffering a foot injury in the Houston game, but now he is day to day.

Dansby will be difficult to replace if he cannot go against the Falcons and is out for an extended period. He leads the Browns with 73 tackles. The Browns signed him in free agency after releasing veteran D’Qwell Jackson last winter.

“It’s a shame,” Pettine said. “He’d been playing at a high level and it’s more than just the playing and his ability on the field. It’s how he’s been in the meeting room, locker room, out on the practice field just the intensity, the energy, the leadership. It’s all part of it.”

Dansby is in his 11th season. He never played fewer than 14 games in any of his first 10 seasons in the league.

Craig Robertson and rookie Chris Kirksey will be the starting inside linebackers until Dansby returns. Robertson will take over as defensive captain and wear the radio helmet to get signals from defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil. After Dansby, Kirksey is next among players in the front seven with 46 tackles. Now the Browns will be looking for more from the third-round pick from Iowa.

“He has some things to get cleaned up, but we’re very pleased with where he is and think that he’ll be a big part of what we do here moving forward,” Pettine said.

Defensive ends Phil Taylor and Armonty Bryant are on season-ending injured reserve with knee injuries. Defensive tackle John Hughes is on injured reserve/designated to return with a knee injury. He is eligible to play in the final game of the season in Baltimore on Dec. 28 and the postseason if the Browns make the playoffs. A knee injury kept nose tackle Ahtyba Ruin from practicing Wednesday.

Linebacker Barkevious Mingo has been playing with a sore shoulder since being injured in the opener. He sat out the second game and has worn a harness for the last eight. He had a season high six tackles against the Texans.

Pettine said some players might have shut it down for the season with Mingo’s injury, but now Pettine is looking for more production from players such as Mingo, Robertson and defensive ends Billy Winn and Des Bryant, especially until Sheard is 100 percent.

“It’s difficult,” Pettine said. “It’s something we have to find a way to overcome. We don’t want to overdo it scheme-wise and start to zero blitz people to stop the run because then you’re going to give up big plays.

“There is no magical answer. It’s all wrapped up in the little details. Sometimes we do them well. Sometimes we don’t.”

The Browns are giving up an average of 142 yards per game on the ground.

NOTES: The Browns released RB Ben Tate on Tuesday and re-signed LB Zac Diles, who was with the team in training camp.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA