Browns Rule 3 Players Out, List 4 Others Questionable For Playoff Game
The Cleveland Browns ruled three players out and listed four others as questionable after their final practice Thursday ahead of their first playoff game Saturday against the Texans.
Safety Grant Delpit (groin), kicker Dustin Hopkins (left hamstring) and wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) were all ruled out for the game. Cornerback Mike Ford (calf), running back Pierre Strong (back), safety Juan Thornhill (calf) and cornerback Denzel Ward (knee) were all ruled questionable.
Ward was a new addition to the injury report Thursday after he suffered his injury in practice, and the extent of his injury nor how much of practice he missed isn’t known.
Delpit, who was designated to return from injured reserve earlier in the week, will need the Browns to win Saturday to have a chance of playing again this season. The fourth-year safety had been a vital and versatile piece of the Browns’ secondary until he suffered his injury on Dec. 10 against the Jaguars.
Nov 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit (22) celebrates a third down stop against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Hopkins was deemed “unlikely” to play earlier in the week by Stefanski, although he has resumed kicking. He hasn’t played since suffering his injury on a kickoff return for the touchdown against the Texans on Dec. 24.
Riley Patterson has kicked for the Browns the last two weeks since being signed to the practice squad and has gone 1-for-1 on field goal attempts and 6-of-7 on PATs. Patterson played 13 games for the Lions earlier this season before he was waived on Dec. 19. He’s gone 16-for-18 on field goals this season and 41-of-44 on PATs.
