When the Cleveland Browns go on the road to meet the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, a pair of starting quarterbacks return to their posts after Week 3 performances opened the door for doubt.
Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew was benched for the final drive in a 36-22 home loss to the Carolina Panthers after throwing an interception in the fourth quarter. Aidan O’Connell took over and orchestrated a late 13-play, 70-yard touchdown drive.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is down three starting offensive linemen this week. Cleveland’s revamped offense is limping to Las Vegas. Watson absorbed eight sacks during a 21-15 loss to the visiting New York Giants last week.
While Watson came out of the game fine physically, although the rough afternoon could bring about trust issues.
At the outset Sunday, it’s Minshew and the Raiders (1-2) against Watson and the Browns (1-2). Who else takes the field is up in the air.
“There’s no issue. Gardner Minshew is the quarterback,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said this week.
Yet, it isn’t as if the Raiders are issue free. The Panthers handled the Raiders’ offensive and defensive lines in Week 3, with a frustrated Pierce saying afterward, when asked about the team’s effort: “… There were definitely some players that made business decisions.”
Top wide receiver Davante Adams (tied for the team lead with 18 receptions) was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Raiders’ top defensive playmaker, pass rusher Maxx Crosby, is also out due to a left ankle injury that bothered him since Week 2.
The Raiders gave up 437 yards, including 306 passing, and allowed four touchdowns to a Carolina that was in the midst of a change from Bryce Young to Andy Dalton at quarterback. Crosby played well on a high ankle sprain, but his teammates failed to follow his lead. This week, they’ll need a new energizer to emerge.
“At 80 percent, (Crosby is) a lot better than any defensive end in the National Football League,” said Pierce.
Adams started the first three games and has 18 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers, the team’s co-leader in receptions, could become the primary target this week.
There is already a large target on Watson’s back.
With the offensive line in flux all around him, the Browns are on the road without Pro Bowl right guard Wyatt Teller (knee), starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and right tackle Jack Conklin. Conklin was “close” to making his 2024 debut but had what coach Kevin Stefanski said was a “minor setback” with a hamstring injury.
Watson went 21 of 37 for 196 yards with two touchdowns in the loss to the Giants as the Browns finished with just 217 total yards. Watson’s eight sacks cost Cleveland 48 yards, while the Browns also lost two fumbles. He has been sacked an NFL-worst 16 times and pressured more than any quarterback in the league (42) this season.
“When you’re talking about protection, it’s everybody,” Stefanski said. “… Everybody has a job to do in order to keep the quarterback clean. So, I got to do my part (as coach). It’s no secret we can’t let him get hit that many times. That’s not good enough and that will get fixed.”
The Browns are 31st in the 32-team NFL in total offense at 248.0 yards per game and 30th in passing at 152.3 yards per game. They have scored just 16.7 points per contest.
On defense, Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett has been playing through foot, thigh and Achilles injuries, yet still has been good enough to record two sacks. forcing a fumble on both. Cleveland is 12th in total defense at 309.3 yards allowed per game. But Garrett said he will play this week and rest .
“He’s a warrior. He’s going to go out there and give it everything he has,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “Anything he’s able to do, he’s going to go out there and do it and when he’s on the field for us, he provides a big boost.”
Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) will not play Sunday, missing his third consecutive game.
