BEREA, Ohio — Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt plowed through the Chargers for 222 yards rushing during Sunday’s 47-42 loss, but neither practiced on Wednesday or Thursday of this week in preparation for the Cardinals and their 28th-ranked run defense.
Chubb, who rushed for 161 yards against the Chargers, including a 52-yard TD, suffered a calf injury during the game and has been resting it all week and receiving treatment. On Wednesday, he worked outside with the trainers in the early part of practice open to the media, but remained inside for that part on Thursday.
For Chubb to be banged up is one thing, but for Hunt to be ailing in the same week is another. Hunt, who rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns in L.A., is suffering from wrist and knee injuries. But he rode the stationary bike vigorously both days, which indicates he can move the knee without too much distress.
The Browns are facing one of the league’s most porous run defenses for the second straight week, and surely they’ll want to capitalize on it. If the two are limited, Demetric Felton and D’Ernest Johnson will be ready for duty.
Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin idle too
Wills (sprained ankle) tried to practice on Wednesday but had to quit after a few reps, and was back off to the side with the trainers on Thursday.
Conklin, who left the Chargers game with a knee injury, was back outside with the trainers on Thursday after remaining inside on Wednesday for the early part of practice open to the media.
The Browns don’t want to be without their starting tackles when they have to face J.J. Watt and other good rushers, but they also don’t want to see Wills carted to the locker room for a third time. Blake Hance started for Wills and held his own, and rookie James Hudson III finished the game for Conklin.
“Hopefully, we can get them out later in the week, but if not, it’s next-man-up mentality for us and those guys,’’ said offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. “Blake, I was really proud of him last week. He did a really nice job. [Joey] Bosa went over there on his side a lot, and he held up. It was great. James came in the game late and played well for us. Next-man-up mentality, I know that’s how we prepare those guys, and they’ll be ready to go. If Jed is back, that is a bonus. If Jack is back, that’s a bonus. If not, I feel really good about our guys.”
Cardinals’ Chandler Jones expected to miss game
Jones, fifth in the NFL with a team-high 5.0 sacks, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, and is expected to sit out because he’s symptomatic.
“It’s just the way it goes,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday. “We’ve been fully vaccinated now for a while and it’s unfortunate, particularly for Chandler, who was playing at a high level. Hopefully he can get well rested and get back by next week’s game, so we’ll see how that plays out.’’
Kingsbury didn’t hold out much hope for Jones producing two negative tests by Saturday, 24 hours apart. He must also be asymptomatic for 48 hours to play.
“I hope [Jones can play this week], but how I’ve seen it go so far, I think that would be a stretch,” he said.
Jones notched all five of his sacks in the opener in Tennessee, and no one else on the team has more than two. He also leads the team with 14 QB hits, more than twice the amount recorded by J.J. Watt, who has six. Watt, incidentally, has yet to record a sack this season, but is second with four tackles for a loss.
The loss of Jones is like the Browns being without Myles Garrett, who leads the NFL with seven sacks, but the Browns might be without an offensive tackle or two, so they might be even.
Two Cardinals staff members test positive
Two Cardinals staff members tested positive for COVID-19 this week, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. If one more individual tests positive, either a player or a staff member, the club will be thrown into intensive protocols.
Hopkins misses second straight day with illness
Despite the mini-outbreak in the Cardinals organization and DeAndre Hopkins’ illness, the five-time Pro Bowl receiver hasn’t tested positive for the virus. He sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday, but wasn’t placed on COVID-19 reserve Thursday.
“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen him, but he’s a guy we all know has great hands, he separates the tops of routes and he’s just a crafty guy who has been able to do it for a long time,’’ said Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods. “We’ve definitely talked to the DBs just in terms of how we feel we should play him. Even saying that, it is easy to say, harder to do.”
Hopkins leads the Cardinals with 312 yards and four TD catches.
“If there’s anything around him, he’s catching it – one hands, two hands,’’ said Woods. “He just has that big catch radius, and he rarely drops any passes thrown to him.”
Jarvis Landry still not designated for return
Landry (sprained MCL) is eligible to come off IR this week, but the receiver hasn’t been designated for return. Instead, he’s been running on his own, and is likely aiming for the Broncos game Thursday night or the Steelers game Oct. 31.
“He’s doing good,’' teammate Odell Beckham Jr. said. “His spirit is good. Mentally he’s doing good. I haven’t gotten to see him run or do anything but he’s doing much better.”
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