Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett did not suffer any structural damage to his left shoulder in Sunday's game at Denver, a positive development for a Cleveland team rocked by major injuries all season. Garrett, who has 13 sacks for Cleveland's top-ranked defense, got hurt during the 29-12 loss to the Broncos. Coach Kevin Stefanski said an MRI showed nothing major wrong in Garrett's shoulder, the same one he sprained in a single-car crash last year.
Cleveland's top-ranked defense is without its top cornerback. Denzel Ward will miss Sunday's game at Denver with a shoulder injury, leaving the Browns' secondary vulnerable as it tries to contain quarterback Russell Wilson and the Broncos, who have won four straight games. Ward, a two-time Pro Bowler, missed his third straight practice on Friday, and coach Kevin Stefanski said the 26-year-old would sit this week with an injury sustained in last Sunday's 13-10 win over Pittsburgh.
Kevin Stefanski has juggled quarterbacks, managed drama, altered his offense's identity because of injuries and even implemented a two-tackle rotation. “Whatever it takes,” Stefanski said, dropping in an expletive for emphasis. The Browns (7-3) have equaled their best record since 1999, and much of the credit goes to Stefanski, whose steady, stoic demeanor has kept the team focused amid an array of distractions.
Joe Flacco's arrival hasn't altered the Cleveland Browns' plans at starting quarterback. The 38-year-old Flacco, who went 18-3 in his career against the Browns while playing mostly with the Ravens, initially will be on the team's practice squad, with the expectation he'll soon be added to the active roster.