Under interim coach, Jets seek to save season, beginning with Bills battle

Aaron Rodgers is expected to help the New York Jets go from laughingstocks to contenders.

But the Jets weren’t displaying enough signs to feel good about ending their 13-season playoff drought.

The dismal start led to Tuesday’s dismissal of coach Robert Saleh. Now, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich will guide the team Monday night in a crucial AFC East contest against the visiting Buffalo Bills at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Jets (2-3) made the coaching change after back-to-back losses to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett also had his playcalling duties taken away and passing game coordinator Todd Downing will call the plays against the Bills.

Rodgers acknowledged that he and his teammates are partly responsible for the coaching change.

“I think we need to do everything we can to maximize this opportunity,” Rodgers said Thursday. “… We need to be accountable to each other. When something like this happens, it’s a reset for everybody.”

Rodgers, 40, certainly needs to raise his own level of play. He has completed just 61 percent of his passes and been sacked 13 times while passing for 1,093 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.

Three of the interceptions came during last week’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings.

The former four-time MVP with the Green Bay Packers is overseeing an offense that ranks 25th in scoring (18.6 points per game) and 27th in total offense (286.6 yards per game). New York also ranks last in rushing offense at 80.4 yards per game.

Rodgers said things need to improve immediately under Ulbrich, who is the team’s defensive coordinator.

“I think the spotlight’s on the players,” Rodgers said. “Now, you can change coaches, but we’re the ones out there on the field playing. So we got to play better, but we gotta stick together and get behind ‘Brick’ and move forward.”

Ulbrich, 47, spent 10 seasons as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in a career that ended in 2009. He went into coaching and has been with the Jets since 2021 and is in his fourth season as their defensive coordinator.

“We can’t be afraid of mistakes and half-stepping,” Ulbrich said. “We’ve got to play this game on our terms, and I’m very confident we’re going to see that Monday night.”

Buffalo (3-2) is having its own struggles with consecutive losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.

Star quarterback Josh Allen was an abysmal 9-for-30 passing for 131 yards and one touchdown in last weekend’s 23-20 road loss to the Texans.

“I’ve got to be better,” Allen said. “Ball placement, and a couple throws I wish I could have had back this last game.

“Just making sure we’re on the same page, and it starts with the quarterback. That’s on me. Just trying to find ways this next week of sustaining drives, being better on third down, staying out of some of these third-and-long situations.”

Bills coach Sean McDermott is convinced Allen’s problems are a short-term thing.

“You go through a season, it’s never a straight line in terms of the path to success,” McDermott said. “You’ve got to go through the ebbs and flows of the season and manage them.

“I know Josh is as competitive as there is, and we have full confidence in him, and I’m confident he’ll get back to doing that, and that’s important for us.”

Buffalo ranks third in scoring at 28.4 points, but just 22nd in total offense (299.8). Khalil Shakir leads the Bills in both receptions (18) and receiving yardage (230) as a go-to receiver has yet to emerge.

Shakir (ankle) sat out two practices this week before being limited Saturday. He’s listed as questionable. Starting running back James Cook (toe) also is questionable.

Star defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring) will miss his second straight game. Two other defenders are questionable, tackle Austin Johnson (oblique) and cornerback Taron Johnson (forearm).

Jets cornerback Michael Carter II (back) was ruled out Saturday. Standout linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) is expected to return after a three-game absence. Mosley and Tyler Conklin (hip) were both listed as questionable.

Right tackle Morgan Moses (knee) is slated to return after a two-game absence. Rodgers (ankle) practiced in full on Saturday and is good to go.

Buffalo has won six of the past eight meetings between these teams.

–Field Level Media

Raiders make QB change to spark offense vs. Steelers

In an attempt to jump-start their offense, the Las Vegas Raiders will change quarterbacks this weekend to someone new.

As for their disgruntled star wideout? Same old, same old.

Davante Adams is likely to remain out and second-year signal-caller Aidan O’Connell will step in for veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew II when the Raiders (2-3) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) on Sunday afternoon.

This will be the third game in a row that Adams is expected to miss because of a hamstring injury. While he has been sidelined, trade rumors have swirled around the 11th-year veteran who has five 1,000-yard campaigns in his previous six seasons.

“We talked so everything’s good,” Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce said. “He is still a Raider. He has never not been a Raider. When he’s healthy and can play, we’ll play him.”

Las Vegas is also expected to be without wideout Jakobi Meyers, who injured an ankle last Sunday in a loss to the host Denver Broncos. After being listed as questionable on Friday when he was a limited participant at practice, Meyers was downgraded to doubtful on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Steelers are playing a similar game of wait-and-see when it comes to injury recovery with their own high-profile veteran.

Quarterback Russell Wilson, who has not played this season because of a calf injury, returned to practice this week. He took repetitions with the second team in practice and is expected to serve as a backup to Justin Fields this week against Las Vegas.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Wilson is working his way back.

“He’s probably going to be active as the No. 2 quarterback,” Tomlin said of Wilson. “I like what I’ve seen out here. Again, health and rust are two different things. I thought he had a good week displaying his health, his ability to protect. Now it’s just a process of getting re-acclimated to the ball.”

Fields has posted a career-best 97.1 passer rating in his first season in Pittsburgh. He has passed for 961 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, and he has rushed for 172 yards and three scores.

Najee Harris is the Steelers’ top running back with 270 yards but only 3.3 yards per carry. George Pickens leads the team’s receivers with 23 catches for 310 yards.

As for the Raiders, O’Connell is set to make his first start of 2024 after starting 10 games as a rookie in 2023. The Purdue product has played in two games in backup duty this season, completing 19 of 32 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Pierce pulled Minshew after he threw two costly interceptions in last week’s 34-18 loss against the Denver Broncos. He said O’Connell earned an opportunity to start but he left open the possibility that he could turn back to Minshew later in the season.

“I don’t plan on making switches at any (specific) time,” Pierce said. “When it’s time to make a switch, we’ll make a switch.”

Pierce said he was impressed by O’Connell’s maturity as a second-year player.

“(He’s) out of that shell, not looking like a rookie no more,” Pierce said. “Not acting like a rookie no more. He has a certain presence about himself. I love how he walks around the building.

“Really, what I respect the most, is when we named Gardner the starter, he said, ‘All right, I’m going to be the best scout team quarterback possible.’ And he was lighting our (defense) up. And every day he gives us the best look and he walks around with a smile on his face.”

Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers will look to stay hot after scoring his first career touchdown last week against Denver. Bowers leads the team with 313 receiving yards.

Las Vegas also hopes to ignite its running game, which has sputtered this season. Zamir White leads the team with 152 rushing yards and Alexander Mattison is next with 125.

Both teams feature elite pass rushers.

The Steelers’ T.J. Watt has 4.5 sacks in five games this season after tallying 19 sacks in 17 games last year. Watt surpassed 100 career sacks last week against the Cowboys.

Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby can also change the game on defense. Crosby has five sacks in four games after notching 14.5 in 2023.

–Field Level Media

QBs in focus as Commanders make short trip to play Ravens

Two of the NFL’s best dual-threat quarterbacks — one a well-established star, the other a rookie — will battle when the host Baltimore Ravens renew their regional rivalry with the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Lamar Jackson, the two-time and reigning NFL MVP, has led the Ravens (3-2) to three straight victories into first place in the AFC North with highlight-reel passes and runs.

The Commanders are 4-1 for the first time since 2008 behind rookie Jayden Daniels, who is the first player in NFL history with more than 1,000 yards passing and 250 yards rushing in his first five career games.

There are obvious comparisons between Daniels and Jackson, who are both Heisman Trophy winners. Commanders coach Dan Quinn, however, said each player has his individual style.

“I think everybody knows how exceptional and remarkable Lamar is, and so I get why people would say that here’s somebody who’s got the athletic ability and can absolutely rip it as well,” Quinn said at his weekly news conference this week. “But I’ve always wanted Jayden to be the best version of him and absolutely go for it in that way. They’ll feature different ways in the offense than we do.

“But as far as a comparison, I didn’t allow myself to kind of go down all that road. I just really wanted to kind of stay in all the things that he could do and how we would feature him in our offense with our guys.”

Jackson, in his seventh NFL season, has thrown for 1,206 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception for a 107.3 passer rating. Jackson has also run for 363 yards with two scores.

In last week’s 41-38 overtime victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson had one of the most iconic plays of his career. After a botched snap, Jackson picked up the ball from the turf, stiff-armed Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard deep in the backfield, and then threw a touchdown pass as he was getting pushed out of bounds to tight end Isaiah Likely.

Jackson was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for that overall performance.

“I knew what was going on,” Jackson said on Sunday. “We just had to put points on the board. That’s what was going through my mind, but without (making) a costly turnover. We were driving the ball down the field, trying to make something happen, because those guys, I think, (had) one play that went 80 yards, so it’s like we have to respond back fast because time is running out, and time was on our side today because we were able to make something happen.”

The Ravens have the NFL’s No. 1 rushing offense, averaging 211.2 yards per game. Establishing the run could be the focal point for offensive coordinator Todd Monken because Washington is ranked 22nd against the run (130 ypg) and 13th against the pass (198 ypg).

Daniels has thrown for 1,135 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also run for 300 yards with four scores.

The Ravens’ secondary has struggled this season and has allowed 280.2 yards passing per game — ranked 31st in the league, ahead of only the Jacksonville Jaguars (287.8). As a result, Daniels could have opportunities to make plays downfield against Baltimore’s cornerback and safeties.

The Commanders also have the NFL’s top-scoring offense with 31 points per game under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

“Jayden is playing at a high, high level,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “Kliff has done a great job in terms of building the offense around Jayden. They have skill players, they have a really great running back, a veteran offensive line — think they are doing a great job. You see it on tape. They have a lot of plays where there is all kinds of space out there that they’ve created. We have our hands full.”

The Ravens lead the all-time regular-season series against the Washington franchise 4-3.

Washington leading rusher Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) and linebacker Jordan Magee (knee) were ruled out Saturday. Robinson has ran for 325 yards and five touchdowns. The Commanders ruled out safety Tyler Owens (shin) on Friday.

On Saturday, Washington activated defensive lineman Efe Obada (tibia/fibula) off the physically unable to perform list. He is set to play for the first time since sustaining a major right leg injury 11 months ago.

The Ravens won’t have defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee), linebacker Malik Harrison (groin) or cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee/hamstring). Five players are questionable: running back Rasheen Ali (neck), receiver/return specialist Deonte Harty (knee), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe), offensive lineman Sala Aumavae-Laulu (back) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (ankle).

–Field Level Media

Defensive-minded Broncos, Chargers square up for slugfest

Back in Denver days after breaking the long-running hex of the rival Raiders, the Broncos attempt to catch lightning in a bottle once more when another division foe rolls into town Sunday afternoon.

The Broncos (3-2) catapulted into second place in the AFC West with a 34-18 win over the visiting Raiders last week and push for a fourth consecutive win over the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2).

Los Angeles managed 16 total points in a pair of defeats against Denver last season, part of the reason the Chargers are under new management in 2024. New boss Jim Harbaugh steers a rested bunch into Week 6 following a bye week wary of a battle plan from the Broncos that looks eerily familiar.

“Not where we want to be. We want to be 4-0,” Harbaugh said. “We’re 2-2.”

Denver enjoyed home cooking last week, when they snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Raiders that included every game since the franchise moved to Las Vegas. The Broncos put up 34 points, their highest output in a game since beating the Lions 38-10 on Dec. 12, 2021 with a backfield of Teddy Bridgewater and Melvin Gordon.

Defense is the common denominator in this AFC West contest. The Broncos have allowed 11.8 points per game since a Week 1 loss at Seattle and are tied for second in the NFL in scoring defense behind the Chargers’ NFL-leading 12.5 opponent points per game.

“In my experience, defense comes along a little quicker,” Harbaugh said. “Offense is that frustrated, patient discipline.”

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert welcomed the early bye week.

He played through a high ankle sprain in consecutive losses before the Week 5 break as the Chargers reset in the midst of a stretch with two touchdowns in the past 10 quarters. The Steelers and Chiefs took away the running game that put up 395 yards to carry the offense during a 2-0 start. Production declined to 116 total yards in the defeats to Pittsburgh and Kansas City.

Harbaugh said “nobody does more” for the Chargers than Herbert, who is practicing with his right ankle wrapped and was a limited practice participant on Wednesday. He’s also a key component in the Chargers making the type of improvement Harbaugh said he’s chasing.

“For us it’s getting crisper, sharper on offense,” Harbaugh said, pointing to penalties as missed assignments as areas of focus. “And in all areas. But that’s particularly what we’re attacking.”

Finding a ground game has helped Nix settle in; he threw four interceptions in his first two starts. He enters Week 6 with 78 consecutive passes without a pick over the past three starts with Denver’s team rushing yardage over 100 in each of those wins.

‘He’s getting experience, and we’re seeing it,” Payton said of Nix impressing him with “processing” skills pre-snap.

A run-first identity is Payton’s preference, but he knows the Broncos have to find a way to take more consistent shots downfield to open running lanes and extend drives. Denver’s 14.8 first downs per game is tied for 30th in the NFL with the New England Patriots — behind the likes of the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns — but ahead of the 32nd-ranked Chargers (13.5).

One of the consequences is a miniscule margin for error for both defenses. Nix had 60 passing yards in a Week 3 win over the Jets. Herbert is averaging 144.5 passing yards per game.

But both teams are staying afloat by coming up with takeaways and getting to the quarterback. Only five teams have more takeaways than the Broncos’ eight and the Chargers are tied for third in the league with a plus-five turnover differential.

Nix averages 168.3 passing yards per game, 30th in the NFL. But Payton insists he’ll measure success of his team and quarterback by one statistic — victories. Nix is the first Denver rookie quarterback to win three consecutive starts and posted his first game with multiple TD passes last week, when the Broncos also delivered a 100-yard interception return courtesy of cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Surtain was NFL defensive player of the week and is being mentioned as a potential NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

“He’s playing lights out,” Payton said of Surtain. “I can’t stand talking about those type of awards in the early part of October. But man, the play he made the other day was huge. He’s obviously one of, if not the top corner in the league. He practices his tail off. He’s a great teammate.”

Surtain said “it is a little early” for end-of-season awards and he’s looking to build each week.

“I’m just going to keep on working and keep on honing my craft,” Surtain said.

After Week 6, three of the next four games are on the road for the Broncos. Payton returns to New Orleans next week for a primetime matchup with the Saints on Thursday night. Denver hosts the Panthers in Week 8 before going to Baltimore and Kansas City to start November.

The Chargers are also in primetime next week with a Monday night trip to play the Arizona Cardinals.

The Chargers placed running back Gus Edwards (ankle) and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on injured reserve on Saturday. Samuel, who started the first four games, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Los Angeles star outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) was limited in his return to practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday. Bosa has not played since Week 3.

Four others are also questionable for Los Angeles: cornerbacks Deane Leonard (hamstring) and Kristian Fulton (knee), linebacker Nick Niemann (hamstring) and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (pectoral). However, Niemann was taken off injured reserve Saturday and is expected to play.

The Broncos have ruled out receiver Josh Reynolds (hand), center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle). Running back Audric Estime (ankle) and cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) are questionable.

–Field Level Media

Underachieving Bengals can’t afford slip vs. banged-up Giants

Two teams with hopes of salvaging their season meet Sunday night when the New York Giants face the Cincinnati Bengals in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Giants (2-3) not only have the advantage of playing in their home stadium, but they are also coming off a 29-20 road win over the Seattle Seahawks and now return with a chance to get to .500 on the season.

The Bengals (1-4) hope to get past their most recent disappointment in a season full of them, as they lost 41-38 in overtime to the visiting Baltimore Ravens last week.

The Giants are dealing with injuries to key performers on both sides of the ball.

Coach Brian Daboll said outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux is week-to-week after undergoing surgery to address a wrist injury, while rookie star wide receiver Malik Nabers will miss a second game in a row due to a concussion.

New York linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) also was ruled out, while wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (shoulder) and punter Jamie Gillan (hamstring) were considered questionable as of Friday.

Giants running back Devin Singletary (groin) was a limited practice participant all week and was listed as questionable. He is “trending in the right direction” toward a return Sunday night, according to Daboll.

In their win at Seattle, the Giants recorded a season-best 420 total yards. They held the Seahawks to their lowest point total of the season, and New York is allowing just 20.8 points per game.

Dexter Lawrence has fought through double and triple teams to record six sacks, the highest total by a New York player through five games since 2011, when Jason Pierre-Paul had 6.5.

“It’s not an easy thing,” Daboll said. “There were times last week where there were three guys on him. So, again, he understands that. When he gets his opportunities, he’s got to make them go. Very thankful that he’s on our football team.”

The Bengals have little to be thankful for lately.

Against the Ravens, they built three different 10-point leads in the second half thanks to an impressive performance from quarterback Joe Burrow. However, the defense failed to protect the advantages, Burrow threw a late interception in regulation and the special teams failed in overtime when holder Ryan Rehkow bobbled the snap on a potential 53-yard game-winning field goal.

Burrow, who threw a career-high five touchdown passes, completed 30 of 39 attempts for 392 yards and a 137.0 passer rating. Burrow’s top receivers — Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — each had a pair of touchdown grabs.

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor preached the importance of not looking beyond this week’s matchup against the Giants.

“We’re five games into the season,” Taylor said. “I know what the noise is. We’re 1-4, and so we’re accountable for all of that. It’s not good enough. We have too much talent on this team to be in the position we’ve found ourselves in right now.

“But all we can do focusing forward is (to ask ourselves), how do we beat the New York Giants? How do we have a great week, how do we get back on the winning track? You look around the AFC and there’s plenty of opportunity there moving forward, and we just need to take advantage of it.”

The Bengals have scored 30-plus points in each of their past three games. They enter Week 6 tied for fourth in the NFL in scoring (28 points per game), ninth in total offense (359 yards per game) and fifth in passing offense (263 yards per game).

Cincinnati DJ Ivey, on injured reserve due to a knee ailment, returned to practice this week as a full participant and was listed as doubtful for Sunday. Cornerback Mike Hilton (knee) and halfback Chase Brown (quadriceps) were both listed as questionable.

The two teams are meeting for just the 12th time, with the Bengals leading the series 6-5. The Giants won the most recent meeting 19-17 in 2020 at Cincinnati, the only time the visiting team has prevailed in the past 11 encounters.

–Field Level Media

Falcons hope they won’t need late-game magic vs. Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons have figured out how to make the most of their talent so far amid a makeover.

The Carolina Panthers still are trying to sort things out ahead of the Falcons’ visit to Charlotte on Sunday.

The Falcons (3-2) own a one-point victory, a two-point triumph and an overtime win after trailing in the last minute of each of those games.

“The guys just don’t blink,” first-year coach Raheem Morris said. “All of our games have been locked and loaded as far as a (tight margin).”

Atlanta hasn’t played since winning 36-30 in overtime against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 3. The quest to show gains continues because the margins have been so tight.

“It’s a constant improvement all around,” Morris said. “Every week will be something different.”

The Panthers (1-4) have lost two games in a row, falling to 1-2 since Andy Dalton became the starting quarterback. Most recently, Carolina fell 36-10 to the Chicago Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

“The players are ones who have to step up,” Dalton said. “Regardless of what the record is and how things have gone, there are a lot of positive things with this team.”

Other than winning on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 22 and producing some good stretches against the Cincinnati Bengals the next week, the Panthers haven’t held up well.

“We have to keep trying to take those steps,” first-year Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “We go into every game hopeful that this is the week. We’ve had some flashes the past couple of weeks, but can we be consistent and can we consistently execute our schemes.”

The Panthers will try to slow quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has given the Falcons stability at quarterback. Cousins threw for a franchise-record 509 yards in the win over the Buccaneers. Drake London has caught 32 passes from Cousins, with three going for touchdowns.

The Falcons have lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by eight points and to the Kansas City Chiefs by five points. They won their only road outing, against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 16.

“If you’re a good football team, you put healthy pressure on everybody to perform,” Morris said. “I think that’s what we’ve got going on now, which is a lot of fun.”

Dalton’s veteran presence means the Falcons have to be prepared to adjust on defense.

“He has won a lot of games in this league,” Morris said. “Nothing you give him is going to shock him.”

Atlanta has been stingy on defense, and the Panthers have to be ready to deal with that. Dalton is familiar with the personnel on the other side.

“I was around (Falcons safety) Jessie Bates for a couple of years at Cincy, so I know what kind of player he is,” Dalton said.

Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo is 5-for-6 on field-goal attempts of 50 or more yards.

Carolina lost center Austin Corbett for the season because of a biceps tear last week, and the team also ruled out four other players on Friday: linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring/groin), right tackle Taylor Moton (elbow), center Andrew Raym (concussion) and tight end Tommy Tremble (concussion). Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder) is listed as questionable.

The Panthers have been busy making moves to fill the gaps. Among the roster shifts was promoting defensive end DeShawn Williams from the practice squad while signing offensive lineman Cade Mays, who previously played for Carolina, off the New York Giants’ practice squad. Mays started seven games for the Panthers across the past two seasons.

Atlanta ruled out linebacker Troy Andersen (knee), who didn’t practice all week and will miss his second consecutive game. Linebacker Matthew Judon (hamstring) was a limited participant Wednesday and Friday. Linebacker Nate Landman (calf/quad) is listed as questionable for the game. His 21-day window to be activated was opened Wednesday, and he has been limited all week

The Falcons lead the series with Carolina by 36-22, including 15-14 on the road. The teams split last year, with Atlanta taking the season opener at home 24-10 before the Panthers responded with a 9-7 home victory in December.

–Field Level Media

Nick Sirianni, Eagles look to continue post-bye success at Browns

Two head coaches try to cool down their hot seats and two quarterbacks try to regain their successful form when the Cleveland Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Fourth-year coach Nick Sirianni looks to improve to 4-0 after a bye week with the Eagles (2-2), who alternated wins and losses in September. Since losing six of their last seven games in last season’s collapse, Philadelphia has yet to get back on track.

The Eagles are just 13-10 (including the postseason) since Sirianni and Jalen Hurts won the NFC Championship Game in their second season together in 2022. Hurts turned the ball over 28 times in those 23 games, including seven times (four interceptions, three fumbles) already this season.

Asked about the New York Jets’ firing this week of head coach Robert Saleh, Sirianni said he isn’t listening to the outside noise about his own job security.

“Anything out of your control or anything that consumes your mind that’s not focused on not getting better is a waste of time,” Sirianni said Wednesday. “It only clouds the process. … If you’re focused on things that you can’t control, that’s gonna cloud that hunger and drive to get better.”

Philadelphia has been idle since a 33-16 defeat at Tampa Bay on Sept. 29. Playing without leading receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) and All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson (concussion), the Eagles quickly fell behind 24-0 and were outgained 445-227 by the Buccaneers.

Brown, Smith and Johnson practiced this week and are returning to action against the Browns (1-4), who are riding a three-game losing streak and playing their third consecutive road game.

The teams are meeting for the first time since 2020, a 22-17 home win by the Browns in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s first season in Cleveland.

Stefanski is sticking with struggling signal-caller Deshaun Watson, who has more interceptions (12) than wins (nine) since the Browns gambled $230 million on a player who made three straight Pro Bowls with the Houston Texans from 2018-20.

“This is not a one-person type of deal,” Stefanski said Monday. “When we’re playing how we’re playing on offense, we need everybody to do their job and do their job better. And I look at myself and how I can do that. But I believe in Deshaun, I believe in what he brings to this offense, and I believe he will play better.”

In Watson’s defense, he has been under constant pressure and sacked more times (26) than any other quarterback in the NFL this season. The Washington Commanders sacked him seven times in last weekend’s 34-13 romp.

Stefanski bought more time in Cleveland with last season’s late playoff push, engineered by 38-year-old backup Joe Flacco, but his overall record with the Browns is a middling 39-36 (including the postseason).

On Sunday, Watson takes aim at an Eagles defense that ranks 24th against the pass (237.0 yards per game) and has intercepted only one pass in its last 13 quarters.

Hurts and Saquon Barkley could find room to roam against a Browns defense that ranks 25th against the run (141.6 ypg) and has allowed eight rushing TDs.

Eagles receivers Johnny Wilson and Smith cleared concussion protocol and are available for Sunday’s game. Brown missed the last three games after injuring his hamstring during practice before the game against the Atlanta Falcons. Every Eagles player practiced fully on Friday, including linebacker Nakobe Dean (ankle), who limited on Wednesday and Thursday.

Cleveland on Friday ruled out running backs Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee), safeties Grant Delpit (concussion) and Ronnie Hickman (ankle), offensive tackle James Hudson III (shoulder) and center Ethan Pocic (knee).

The Browns listed cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring), linebackers Jordan Hicks (ankle) and Mohamoud Diabate (hip) and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (elbow, triceps) as questionable against the Eagles.

–Field Level Media