CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns are lucky that they’ll have more chances to see Kareem Hunt hurdle defenders this season.
Dodging a season-ending injury, Hunt got the news Monday that he’ll be out about 4-6 weeks with his calf injury and can try to help the Browns try to wrap a playoff berth and then make a run for it in the postseason.
What’s more, other injured players will work their way back onto the field, and the Browns could be full-strength in November and December when it matters most.
Arguably the Browns’ most dangerous weapon, Hunt is one of the inspirational leaders on the team, along with Jarvis Landry. He keeps things light at times, but intense at others. When he grabbed the back of his right leg, it looked like he might possibly be lost for the season to an Achilles injury. Instead, he’ll likely go on IR with the calf injury, which coach Kevin Stefanski described as “significant.”
In a perfect world, he’ll miss the IR minimum of three games and be back in time for the trip to New England on Nov. 14. In what’s hoped to be the worst-case scenario, he’d miss the next six games, rest up through the bye in Week 13, and then come back strong for the final five games, which includes crucial division matchups against the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals.
The tough part about Hunt being out is that Nick Chubb is still working through his own calf injury, and will probably sit out Thursday night’s game against the Broncos. If that’s the case, D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton will carry the load.
But the Browns won’t get any sympathy from the 5-1 Ravens, who early on lost top running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards for the season, and signed a trio of castoffs who all scored in the Ravens’ 34-6 victory over the Chargers.
It’s not ideal for the run-oriented Browns to be without Hunt for an extended period and Chubb for however long, but they can overcome the injuries with their array of weapons and with players coming back off injuries.
The Browns must hope that Baker Mayfield’s partially torn left labrum isn’t serious, because if he can continue to play through it with the harness, or possibly sit out Thursday night’s game against the Broncos, the outlook is good.
During Sunday’s 37-14 to the Cardinals, Mayfield was without his two starting offensive tackles in Jedrick Wills Jr. (ankle) and Jack Conklin (knee), his starting running back in Chubb, and his fave receiver in Jarvis Landry. He was sacked five times, and turned the ball over three times, on two fumbles and an interception. With his full supporting cast, most of the sacks and turnovers probably don’t happen.
When Mayfield, his left arm in a sling, said after the game that “it’s no resemblance of who we are as a team on display today,’’ he wasn’t exaggerating. He knows that wasn’t the offense designed to go the distance, and that many of the key pieces will be back soon.
“You could ask anybody in our building, ‘Have we played to our potential?’ Absolutely not,’’ he said. “We expect to be better. …We have 11 more games to go show who we are. …because nobody makes the playoffs right now. You have to peak at the right time. We will handle this correctly.’’
He added, “Our backs are up against the wall right now, and I like our chances.”
Mayfield exuded confidence, in large part because he knows that reinforcements are on the way, possibly even some for Thursday night. Wills might try to play against the Broncos, and Conklin was kept off IR and could be back soon.
The extent of Odell Beckham Jr.’s shoulder is unknown — he was one of several players who underwent MRIs on Monday — but the fact he returned to the game was a good sign. Even if he sits out Thursday night, he shouldn’t be out long.
Beckham’s BFF Landry could also be back as soon as Thursday night, or possibly for the Halloween game against the Steelers.
The Browns have yet to field their entire starting offense, with Landry leaving the lineup just as Beckham returned. They haven’t had a game where Landry, Beckham, Chubb and Hunt have all been active.
Beckham also graded out higher than any other Brown player with a 90.9 grade against the Cardinals, according to Pro Football Focus, and showed flashes of his big play-making ability. As the season goes along, he should make an impact.
Providing Mayfield’s left shoulder doesn’t shut him down for an extended period, the Browns have grounds to be optimistic about the offense down the stretch.
And with Hunt due back next month instead of next season, it’s one more reason to like the Browns’ chances.
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