The Unique Challenge Of Cleveland’s First 4 Weeks
Jan 1, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) reacts after and interception against the Washington Commanders during the first half at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
It’s long been said that NFL teams look to be playing their best football when January rolls around. They want to be hitting their peak when the games mean the most. For the Cleveland Browns, that’s more important now than ever as all the pieces are in place — but, counterintuitively, the opposite may also be true.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has his franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, one of the best running backs in the league in Nick Chubb, and a slew of offensive weapons at receiver and tight end. New defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has revitalized the defense, and with all of the defensive pieces they’ve added in the offseason, the time is now.
This season is unlike any other though and the Browns need to be ready to play their best football at the beginning of the season. They open their 2023 slate with matchups against all three of their conference opponents — the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens — in the first four weeks. A loss, or a slew of losses, could spell disaster for the Browns as the season carries on, and due to a few injuries suffered during preseason, they may not be in a position to start the way they need to.
Earlier this week, franchise cornerback Denzel Ward was in concussion protocol, Elijah Moore has been in and out of practice over the past few weeks, Stefanski recently said linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk is set to miss several weeks due to a knee injury, and special teams ace Jakeem Grant ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee and will miss the entirety of the season.
It’s been a not-so-great start to a season that has very high expectations in Cleveland.
Although injuries at this point in the season are common, who the injuries have happened to is cause for concern.
Ward is a leader in the secondary. He tallied 53 tackles a year ago, picked off three passes, and was tied for a team-high with 15 pass deflections. He also signed a five-year, $100 million deal last April that made him the highest-paid CB in the league at the time. With Schwartz joining the fray, Ward needs to be around as much as possible to learn the defense and the way that his new defensive coordinator wants to attack offenses. Also, a concussion is not an ideal injury to quickly recover from in time for the start of the season.
Along with Ward, Moore has been tabbed as a player who could potentially play a crucial role this season as the Browns look to revitalize an offense with Watson at the helm.
Moore, who was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2021 draft, had a poor ending to his stint in New York and is seen as a player who can help skyrocket the Browns’ offense. He never reached his full potential in New York as he garnered 80 catches for 984 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons. He often had problems with the way he was used in the offense, and the two sides ended up parting ways. Now he has a fresh start and he’s looking to take advantage of it — if he can stay on the field.
The former Ole Miss wide receiver is quick out of the slot position and has the speed and the agility to beat defenders in the open space. But the importance of him being healthy at this point in the season is having the opportunity to develop a relationship with Watson, establish timing on routes, and discuss where the ball should be thrown in key situations. This is the time of the season when those relationships can really take a step forward. If Moore isn’t on the practice field, there is no way that happens.
As for Grant, he was supposed to be another threat on special teams who could change the game for the Browns and quickly set them up with great field position on punts and kickoffs. After the injury to the speedy wide receiver who spent the first five years of his career with the Miami Dolphins, the Browns will have to adjust again.
Moore, Grant, and Ward are all players who have been pegged as difference-makers. If they aren’t fully healthy and ready to go when the season kicks off next week, it could make for tough sledding as the Browns begin divisional play with a matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Divisional play is also when they are going to be needed most.
If the Browns lose two or even all three of their divisional matchups in the first four weeks of the season, their season could realistically be over before it even gets started.
Starting off with a dismal record in a tough AFC North would make for an uphill battle as the season carries on. With the lofty expectations that the Browns have garnered this year, the season could go from a special one to another year where the “Browns are just being the Browns.”
It all starts with Cleveland playing its best football in Week 1 and starting off the year strong against its conference opponents.
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