{"id":176302,"date":"2023-01-03T22:56:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T22:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/browns-at-steelers-1-pm-sunday-status-of-denzel-ward-and-jack-conklin-uncertain-because-of-injuries-kevin-stefanski-quick-hits\/"},"modified":"2023-01-03T22:56:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T22:56:04","slug":"browns-at-steelers-1-pm-sunday-status-of-denzel-ward-and-jack-conklin-uncertain-because-of-injuries-kevin-stefanski-quick-hits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/browns-at-steelers-1-pm-sunday-status-of-denzel-ward-and-jack-conklin-uncertain-because-of-injuries-kevin-stefanski-quick-hits\/","title":{"rendered":"Browns at Steelers 1 pm Sunday; Status of Denzel Ward and Jack Conklin uncertain because of injuries: Kevin Stefanski quick hits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 Cornerback Denzel Ward and right tackle Jack Conklin both left Sunday’s 24-10 victory over the Commanders with injuries, and the status for both is uncertain for Sunday’s Browns game in Pittsburgh, coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday in a Zoom call with reporters .<\/p>\n

Ward left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury, and was replaced by AJ Green. Conklin left with an ankle injury and was replaced by James Hudson III.<\/p>\n

Ward kicked off the Browns’ pick party against the Commanders by intercepting Carson Wentz on his opening drive, a third-down pass intended for Ward former Buckeyes teammate Terry McLaurin. The Browns went on to kick a field goal for a 3-0 lead, and Grant Delpit swiped two more passes from Wentz en route to the victory.<\/p>\n

Recommended Browns stories<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n

If Conklin rests, it sets up for Hudson having a chance to redeem himself after allowing some of Baker Mayfield’s nine sacks in Mayfield’s last career game as a Brown, the loss in Pittsburgh last season, where Hudson struggled with TJ Watt.<\/p>\n

After that 26-14 loss, Mayfield went off on Stefanski for not giving Hudson, then a rookie fourth-round pick, enough chipping help to hold off Watt.<\/p>\n

Watt notched four sacks on his way to tying Michael Strahan’s NFL record of 22.5 and winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

Watson is more mobile than Mayfield, but still holds the ball too long sometimes in an effort to make a play. He was sacked five times by the Commanders, including four in the first half.<\/p>\n

The Browns vs. Steelers game is at 1 pm<\/b><\/p>\n

The time of the game was officially set for Sunday at 1 pm in Pittsburgh, as expected. The Browns have a chance to knock the 8-8 Steelers out of playoff contention, and Myles Garrett said Sunday they’re planning to do that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’d love to do that,\u201d Garrett said after the victory over the Commanders. \u201cWe consider them our rivals. And divisionally, if we can’t make it, we’re definitely going to make sure those guys can’t. We’re going to do everything in our power. Much respect to them for being in this position. But we live for times like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stefanski watched Kenny Pickett’s fantastic finish<\/b><\/p>\n

Stefanski watched Pickett’s amazing 11-play, 80-yard game-winning drive to beat the Ravens 16-13 Sunday night. The winning score was a 10-yard TD pass to running back Najee Harris with 56 seconds left in the game. It set up a showdown with the Browns Sunday in Pittsburgh, in which the Browns can spoil the playoff chances of the 8-8 Steelers.<\/p>\n

\u201cTalented player who we have to be ready to go against and get to know the young player, but he can make plays off schedule, as you saw in that last drive,\u201d Stefanski said. \u201cHe made some impressive throws throughout the day. So it’s going to be a challenge, as it always is when it’s Browns versus Steelers. We’re excited about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stefanski knows how intense the atmosphere will be in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I say I know what’s at stake, (it’s) that they’re fighting for the playoffs, that a lot of eyeballs are going to be glued to the TV watching this one,\u201d he said. \u201cSo that’s the exciting part for us to be in a meaningful game. We understand that it’s our last one, but we’re excited about going against a division opponent. We know how tight these games have been. So that’s the exciting part to be able to compete for 60 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the same token, he said it’s not the Browns’ focus to knock the Steelers out of contention.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand those type of things, but this is a division game, it’s a rivalry game,\u201d Stefanski said. \u201cWe have a ton of respect for that organization, for those coaches, those players. But we get to lace him up Sunday, don’t know what time yet, but we get to compete for 60 minutes and we’re excited about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Deshaun Watson getting sacked five times<\/b><\/p>\n

Stefanski pinned some of Watson’s five sacks, including four in the first half, on him holding the ball. They also went against arguably the best defensive line in the NFL.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’d say at least a couple of them we can avoid,\u201d Stefanski said. \u201cDeshaun’s going to fight for those extra yards. He’s very, very strong in the pocket. He got out of a few plays that were very impressive. So we understand that. With Deshaun at quarterback, these plays can go on for a long time. So we’ve got to continue to work up front. We’ve got to work on as the receiver’s tight ends, running backs and the scramble drills and those type of things. But the guys fought like crazy. They protected, I thought, by and large well versus a very, very good front.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Grant Delpit’s emergence<\/b><\/p>\n

Delpit has grabbed three interceptions in the last two games \u2014 including two against the Commanders \u2014 and graded out higher than any Browns defender with a 92.3 mark, according to Pro Football Focus. After an uneven start to the season, he’s had three really good weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s playing at a high level,\u201d Stefanski said. \u201cObviously getting his hands on those balls, the one in the end zone, that’s a very difficult play. That’s a high degree of difficulty to track that ball, get your feet down, and he’s tackling well. I know Grant is in his third year, but these young guys, when they get more opportunities, they learn from them. I think their play improves throughout the season.\u201d<\/p>\n