A lot has gone on since the disaster against the New York Giants, but altogether I think we came out a lucky football team. We could've had a quarterback with a separated shoulder, a safety with a career-threatening concussion, and a stud kick returner out for a portion of the season. Instead, we're only going to be forced to rest some guys up until the team's Week 1 contest versus the Dallas Cowboys.
As far as our game this Saturday (4:00 PM EST start time) against the Detroit Lions though, here are the players who have all but been ruled out, and who will be replacing them:
RB Jamal Lewis won't be trucking through defenders against the Lions, as he will sit out with a pulled hamstring.In case you're counting, that could very well be seven starters right there (five for sure). All of the injuries were known about immediately following the Giants game or beforehand, except for the ones to Lewis and McGinest. In case you missed the news yesterday, Lewis pulled hamstring and McGinest pulled a groin during the Giants game. (Late note: according to the OBR, Leonard will be out with a foot injury)
Now, for some more positive news: who will play. Head coach Romeo Crennel and other sources have all but confirmed that the following players will be ready to face the Lions:
The biggest addition to that list? Well, physically, it's Rogers -- but I'm referring to significance: Kevin Kasper. After Travis Wilson failed to take advantage of a starting opportunity last week, Kasper finally made his long-awaited return to practice a day or so ago and is looking to get back into the thick of things before it's too late. If Kasper has a huge game Saturday, I wouldn't rule a roster spot out for him just yet.
One final note to catch up on: Crennel is deciding not to sign another quarterback after Anderson's injury. That means the team is down to just two quarterbacks. Many fans originally speculated that Anderson may have suffered a significant shoulder injury when he was driven into the ground against the Giants, but Crennel shot that rumor down today:
''I know nothing about a shoulder,'' Crennel said. ''I said a hand because he fell on his hand as well as his head. The concussion is the thing we're dealing with. He just got a bruise (on his hand); he put a Band-Aid on it.''
As for how the protection broke down on the play, left tackle Joe Thomas offered some insight:
''They kind of caught us in a blitz and we didn't pick it up correctly. We had leakage on the front side and the back side. When you have that, the quarterback's got no place to go.''
The Browns will only play Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey on Saturday, but they are auditioning for in-house quarterbacks in case of an emergency. Among the candidates are P Dave Zastudil, TE Darnell Dinkins, TE Brad Cieslak, LB Kamerion Wimbley, LB Shantee Orr, LB D'Qwell Jackson, S Sean Jones, S Nick Sorensen, WR Efrem Hill, and WR Syndric Steptoe. I think Zastudil and Dinkins would be the favorites to play quarterback -- and to prevent an injury to a starter, I'd use Dinkins. According to the Plain Dealer, Dinkins was once the fourth quarterback on the Giants' roster.
0 recs | 20 comments
I really hope that Alex Hall is going to be a starter on Saturday. It would be nice to see him go against another teams starters.
And I want to see Leigh Bodden get torched by Wilson.
Bernie19Kosar - August 22, 2008
Leigh Bodden’s probably going to be a backup during the game, so I guess it depends on whether we start Wilson or Kasper. Looking forward to any little rivalry involving Bodden, and then Rogers for our side (I don’t mean Bodden vs. Rogers).
Chris Pokorny - August 22, 2008
I can’t see Kasper starting. Honestly, I think his chances of making the team are very, very slim at this point. Wilson gets another look, as would Sanders in my book, well before Kasper.
Fundamentals - August 22, 2008
I agree his chances are still slim, but so were Sanders’ originally and then we jettisoned him right up to a starting role in camp, for at least a few days.
I also think Wilson or Sanders will get the nod before Kasper, in the end.
Chris Pokorny - August 22, 2008
Why would they sign another QB? No QB can really pick up a system within four practices, so his playbook would be exceptionally limited. Plus, typically the 3rd QB doesn’t play in the 3rd preseason game. So, now, Quinn goes 2+ quarters and Dorsey goes 1+ quarters. No need to waste the spot.
Fundamentals - August 22, 2008
He doesn’t need to learn a system — you sign a guy for his arm during practice (get some basic reps to the third string players).
Then, if Ken Dorsey gets injured this Saturday during the late third quarter, instead of putting in your only remaining QB (Quinn), you throw in a guy who you don’t necessarily care about getting hurt (you know what I mean).
Also, while a guy like Zastudil is an option, do we really want to risk him back there in a preseason game? One bad hit and we’re back to looking for the Paul Ernster-type at punter again.
Chris Pokorny - August 22, 2008
If there is an injury, perhaps there is a concern. Lets remember though, that its not unheard of for a QB to play a complete game. I know its preseason, but weirder things have happened. Also, if that situation did come, I’m pretty sure Quinn/Dorsey/Dinkins/whoever can turn around and hand the ball to Austin Scott and Travis Thomas without a lot of risk of injury. In preseason people tend to look too much for depth.
Also, remember the 80-person roster limit this year. Someone would have to be cut to bring in a guy to hand the ball off late in the game if the third string QB gets hurt. Not exactly worth it in my mind. Honestly, I doubt that anybody not named Quinn or Dorsey is even prepped for this game at QB. It doesn’t make much sense to plan that deep in a preseason game, IMO.
Fundamentals - August 22, 2008
Cut Brandon Mitchell, and there’s your roster spot.
I know Quinn or Dorsey can go the whole game, much like Frye did last week and Matt Cassel of the Patriots has done several times in the past. However, you usually don’t see teams do that with their No. 1 quarterback on the chart. While Anderson is sidelined, Quinn is our No. 1.
I agree that it shouldn’t be a problem in the end by not signing a quarterback, but I can’t not consider the “if” factor.
Chris Pokorny - August 22, 2008
I too will be looking for Hall. This game is going to be rough…
scottsargent - August 22, 2008
QB
Don’t bring one in because later in the season the Steelers can hire the guy to a pretty nice 10 day contract to get some tactical advantage out of him. If we aren’t making a commitment to a guy, it doesn’t make sense. Just make Steptoe and/or Hill run the read-option for the entire fourth quarter. Yes, Detroit should be able to stop it, but who cares. It is an exhibition game. The repercussions for bringing in the wrong guy are way worse than those of not having an extra arm around.
Secondly: Chris, I am dissappointed that you are making us start another WR in the fantasy league. Not only does this mean my draft strategy was different than it should have been, but now I am getting kind of ridiculous trade offers for WRs. I understand you were trying to replicate Yahoo’s scoring system and lineups, but I wish it would have been done before the draft (i.e. when I was asking questions about what changes you made). If the league is for 3 WR, I will not have a problem playing with 3 WR.
Will this game be broadcast online? I still have no cable, but I might be able to get internet.
rufio - August 22, 2008
Agree with Rufio
For what it’s worth, I’m not too crazy about 3 WR’s either, I would have approached the draft differently as well.
Riverboat Sam - August 22, 2008
Yeah, I know for sure I had set the leagues to 3 WR’s prior to the draft. It was only when we were in about the fifth round that I, myself, realized that Fleaflicker was only showing two WRs. I know I’m not crazy either, because before the draft, I had set the roster space to 16 players, and obviously there were only 15 rounds.
I said that if anybody had an issue with the third receiver being added, that I’d have no problem sticking with two WRs, considering we have a flex position. So, unless the other side of the crowd really gives hell now, I’ll change it back to 2 WR’s soon.
Chris Pokorny - August 23, 2008
I am with the 2 WR people, but shouldn’t have much say in the matter since I autodrafted
Roger Dorn - August 23, 2008
Same here. Doesn’t matter to me.
Bernie19Kosar - August 23, 2008
Just so everyone knows, I changed it to 2 WR’s right after I made my post at 12:31 AM (see post above).
Chris Pokorny - August 23, 2008
I’m fine either way. I might have drafted differently, but I picked up a good WR as a free agent so I’m OK with 3. If you want to change to 2, though, that would be fine. The roster sizes will still be the same, right….we won’t have to drop anyone.
Buckeye Brad - August 23, 2008
I hope you weren’t talking about my trade offer. I didn’t think that was ridiculous.
Buckeye Brad - August 23, 2008
Did you offer me McNabb?
I have very limited internet time, so I don’t want to check. All my time on DBN, baby.
I don’t think I recieved anything TRULY absurd, just a little silly. Like Player A who would probably be on fantasy waivers in a few weeks with little upside for WR B who starts for his team and will probably play every game and could get hot.
rufio - August 24, 2008
I offered you Donald Lee, TE, for Reggie Williams, WR. I thought that was a fair offer. Lee is a good backup TE and could probably start (depending on the size of the league).
Buckeye Brad - August 24, 2008
Watching Wimbley or D’Qwell playing QB would be a sight to behold….
BringBackKosar - August 23, 2008
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