Chargers aim to build on opening win, keep Panthers down

The Los Angeles Chargers were encouraged by what happened in the first game of the season, which only serves to heighten their thirst to excel even more.

They’ll take on the host Carolina Panthers, who are trying to ensure better days are ahead, on Sunday afternoon.

The Chargers (1-0) topped the Las Vegas Raiders 22-10 in Jim Harbaugh’s debut as Los Angeles’ coach. That provided motivation to fix glitches and show improvement in the second week.

“Nothing like winning a game but still having a lot there on the table where you can get better,” Harbaugh said.

The Panthers (0-1) had the most-lopsided opening-week loss with a 47-10 blowout at New Orleans. That can’t be the focus, though preventing another downward slide is critical.

There’s no sense for Carolina to continue to dwell on the breakdowns.

“Hopefully, everyone can understand the discipline that is required to be in the moment, to be present in this week,” first-year coach Dave Canales said. “I have to be really cognizant of what I’m asking our team to do.”

The Panthers’ approach is geared toward building confidence for a team likely lacking it. Rather than worry about handling adversity, Canales has put the emphasis on other areas in preparing for the Chargers.

“There’s so much fundamental basic stuff to clean up for this game,” Canales said. “It’s a trust factor. … It starts with us combing through all of it to see if there’s a way we could help more.”

There are several reasons that Sunday’s assignment doesn’t appear to be a good matchup for the Panthers.

The Chargers are well-equipped at quarterback with Justin Herbert, while Carolina has questions with Bryce Young. The second-year pro had just 13 completions in the opener, while throwing two interceptions.

“I think he’s learning some of his (receivers),” Canales said. “We’ve got to keep accumulating those reps.”

The Chargers are bound to harass Young. Stars Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack would be expected to lead that charge — if Bosa plays. The linebacker sat out practice Thursday and Friday due to a back ailment and was listed as questionable for Sunday.

“You can tell as a defense they work really well together,” Young said. “Ton of respect for this and we want to focus on executing the best we can.”

Los Angeles was so overpowering on defense that the Raiders took only one snap in the red zone in the entire game.

And for Harbaugh, the best part might be what he has seen from his team as it gets ready for the cross-country trip. He knows the focus is on improving.

“The way they work,” he said. “It’s all about the team. It’s all about the work that they put in.”

Meanwhile, Herbert will test Carolina’s defense and should have plenty of help. J.K. Dobbins rushed for 135 yards on 10 carries in the opener.

“J.K.’s performance, I loved it in all ways,” Harbaugh said.

Herbert had only 144 passing yards, yet he’s bound to top that mark on most days.

The Panthers put standout defensive tackle Derrick Brown on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury earlier this week.

Former Carolina center Bradley Bozeman plays along Los Angeles’ offensive front.

The Panthers have won six of seven meetings with the Chargers, who picked up their only win in the series in Charlotte in 2004.

The Chargers listed safety Alohi Gilman (knee) as doubtful for the game. In addition to Bosa, Los Angeles running back Hassan Haskins (toe), wide receiver Josh Palmer (knee) and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) were considered questionable.

The Panthers listed five players as questionable: punter Johnny Hekker (back), guard Damien Lewis (groin), tight end Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back), offensive tackle Taylor Moton (back/knee) and running back Raheem Blackshear (personal).

–Field Level Media

Lions host Buccaneers in another playoff rematch

The Detroit Lions had to open the campaign against a team it eliminated from the playoffs last season. The second week of the season will be no different.

Following a 26-20 overtime win against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, the Lions host Tampa Bay on Sunday. Detroit ended the Bucs’ 2023 season with a 31-23 win in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff doesn’t want to overemphasize last year’s playoff game while preparing for Sunday’s rematch with the 1-0 Buccaneers.

“You can look at it. You can play the game all day long of, ‘OK, we did this, and they did that, so how are we going to counter this and then we’ve got to counter that.’ And that’s a long rabbit hole you can go down,” he said.

“So you just try to prepare for it like it’s another game and watch that tape as if it’s another game and understand there are some certain things that they were trying to take away from us. But at the same time, I’m sure they’ll try to take away something else this game, so we’ll have to adjust as we go.”

The Rams did a good job of taking away some of the Lions’ offensive weapons in Sunday night’s opener. Goff was held to 217 passing yards, with 52 coming on a touchdown heave to Jameson Williams. All-Pro Amon Ra St. Brown was held to 13 yards on three receptions and Sam LaPorta also had a relatively quiet night (four catches, 45 yards).

Detroit coach Dan Campbell expects the Bucs, like the Rams, to challenge for their division title.

“They are certainly going to be competitive and be right there in the race, and so this is a chance to get an early one,” he said. “You get an early one and you just don’t know what this is going to mean down the road and if you can put some money in the bank early in the season, it will pay big dividends for you down the road. So, I think that’s the way you have to look at it.”

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles says there’s “absolutely nothing” his team can take away from its last trip to Detroit.

“That was last year in the playoffs. They knocked us out,” he said. “We’re 1-0, we’re trying to win a ballgame to go 2-0.”

Bucs receiver Chris Godwin is looking forward to the challenge.

“Just more excited about the opportunity to go back there,” he said. “It’s a great environment. The fans, in that last game, they were rocking. They’re very excited about how good that team is, and they have a right to be. … As a competitor, it’s really fun to go into places like that.”

Godwin’s season got off to a strong start with eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Bucs’ 37-20 win over Washington. Mike Evans added 61 yards and two TD grabs. Baker Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns.

Mayfield passed for 349 yards and three touchdowns in the playoff game but was also picked off twice and sacked four times. The Lions didn’t have a turnover while St. Brown and LaPorta combined for 17 receptions.

“They’re talented all the way around, no question about it,” Bowles said. “They can hurt you in a lot of ways.”

Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. didn’t practice all week due to an ankle/foot injury and was ruled out, along with starting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (calf), right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion) and reserve cornerback Josh Hayes (ankle). Starting cornerback Zyon McCollum (concussion), starting defensive end Logan Hall (foot) and rookie safety Tykee Smith (illness) are questionable.

For the Lions, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) and wide receiver Isaiah Williams (abdomen) were ruled out, while defensive end Marcus Davenport (groin) is doubtful. Jameson Williams and starting right tackle Penei Sewell are questionable with ankle injuries, and starting safety Kerby Joseph (hamstring) is also questionable.

–Field Level Media

Jets remain optimistic heading into clash with Titans

At least Aaron Rodgers made it through his first game this season with the New York Jets.

The Jets’ hopes of being 1-0 didn’t last too long past halftime of a 32-19 Monday night loss at San Francisco that really wasn’t close. A garbage-time touchdown with backup Tyrod Taylor running the offense masked the true, non-competitive nature of most of the second half.

New York and Rodgers shoot for a better result and better play Sunday when they visit Nashville, Tenn., for a clash with another 0-1 team, the Tennessee Titans.

Jets coach Robert Saleh said Tuesday that 0-1 with a healthy Rodgers feels better than 1-0 did in 2023 with Rodgers on the shelf for the year. The 40-year-old Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on his fourth snap in last year’s opener against Buffalo, leaving New York’s offense an incoherent mess during a 7-10 season.

“I think our offense is in a really good place,” Saleh said. “I thought it was a good first outing in terms of, you know, for the quarterback, he hadn’t played in so long. But there was a lot of encouraging things and I know it’s going to be a lot better once we balance out this team.”

Rodgers completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown and a deflected interception but showed some rust, missing throws he had made over and over during his 18 years with the Green Bay Packers.

A bigger concern for Jets fans might be a defense that was shredded by the 49ers for 401 total yards and 24 first downs. San Francisco possessed the ball for more than 38 minutes, but Saleh isn’t concerned about that unit.

“I know we’re going to get the defense fixed,” he said. “It’s not a problem.”

Playing Tennessee should shed more light on whether Saleh is right. The Titans blew a 17-0 lead in Week 1, losing 24-17 in Chicago as its offense sputtered in the debut of coach Brian Callahan.

Will Levis played more like an uncertain rookie than the now-second-year quarterback who excited Tennessee at the end of last year. Levis was 19-of-32 passing for just 127 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The first one was a pick-6 by Tyrique Stevenson that gave the Bears the lead for good.

Levis played to a meager quarterback rating of 52.5 and Callahan wasn’t happy after the game. On Wednesday morning, the coach softened somewhat.

“I’d say so far, Will has handled it great,” Callahan said. “Even after the game, he was in a good place — understood the mistakes, understood what he had to correct and was ready to move forward.”

The result canceled out an excellent performance from the defense, which permitted Chicago only 148 total yards and 11 first downs. The Titans notched two sacks and forced a turnover while not allowing the Bears’ offense into the end zone.

“It was almost as if we’d just punted on first-and-10 every time, we might have won the game, the way we gave it away,” said Callahan.

The Titans own a 25-20-1 lead in the teams’ all-time series. The Jets won the most recent meeting three years ago in overtime.

Jets starting cornerback D.J. Reed (knee) did not practice Friday after being limited Wednesday and Thursday. He is questionable to face the Titans, as is defensive lineman Micheal Clemons (triceps). Defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw (personal reasons) did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday and was limited on Friday, but carries no game designation.

The Titans have no players with a game designation for Sunday. Safety Jamal Adams (hip) will make his team debut after missing Week 1, and he will go up against the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2017. Adams made two Pro Bowls in three seasons with the Jets.

–Field Level Media

Russ revenge game nixed, Broncos introduce rookie QB to Steelers

Rather than the starring role in a Pittsburgh Steelers’ revival, former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson returns to Denver as an extra in the Week 2 game with an entirely different subplot than expected.

Justin Fields guided the Steelers (1-0) to an 18-10 win at Atlanta last week with Wilson out because of a calf injury. He will try to push Pittsburgh to 2-0 for the first time since 2020 as the road show continues at Denver (0-1). Fields rushed for 57 yards and completed 73.3 percent of his passes to defeat the Falcons after learning he could start three days before the regular-season opener.

“As I sit here today, we’re preparing as if Justin is going to be our quarterback,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “I think that’s the appropriate way to do it. Speculation is a waste of time. Russell’s hurt. He’s not available to us.”

Tomlin said on Friday that Wilson’s status is questionable, and his chances of starting are even less, so the focus is on getting Fields ready to play.

Even if he stays on the sideline, the Broncos would thoroughly enjoy giving Wilson a certain brand of Mile High Salute on Sunday as they introduce rookie first-round pick Bo Nix to the home crowd. In a 26-20 loss to the Seahawks last week, Nix rushed for the Broncos’ only touchdown but was intercepted twice in his NFL debut at Seattle.

The Broncos allowed a 34-yard touchdown run to Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith — not known as a runner — that might have Fields giddy.

Getting the ball downfield and finding more support — in pass protection and from skill-position talent — are critical components Broncos head coach Sean Payton said was lacking last week. Payton said pass protection was “average at best,” a reversal from last season when he chided his veteran starter — Wilson — by saying sacks are a reflection of the quarterback. Wilson was sacked 100 times in two seasons with the Broncos.

“We need to be better around him and we will be,” Payton said.

Denver ball carriers gained zero yards after contact in Week 1, which falls on the running backs and blockers from wide receiver to the offensive line.

“There’s not one specific thing. The thing I continue to like is obviously his movement skills. Obviously it became a much more difficult game when it was third-and-long,” Payton said. “We’ve got to be better on early downs.”

To avoid starting the season 0-2 for the fourth time since 2019, the Broncos are crossing their fingers durable left tackle Garett Bolles can return from an ankle injury that sent him to the locker room in the opener.

Even with a mix of three-tight end and goal-line packages from first-year Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith, no problems arose pushing the ball deep with Fields outside of one long throw negated by George Pickens being flagged for offensive pass interference. Pickens had a 40-yard grab and averaged 14.2 yards per reception.

Avoiding Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II might be impossible, but coaches made it clear they’re not eager to attack the high-paid cover man, even if Pickens pointed the finger back at his old SEC rival. Pickens played at Georgia and Surtain was an All-SEC corner at Alabama.

“I went up against Pat Surtain in college. So a lot of this stuff isn’t new to me,” Pickens said. “I just hope they have their plan correct.”

Health could be a factor for the Steelers’ offensive line. Starting right tackle Broderick Jones aligned at left tackle with Dan Moore (foot) out of practice Wednesday and Troy Fautanu working as the starter at right tackle. Moore has a chance to return late in the week.

Tomlin said Russell Wilson, who missed part of training camp with the same injury, felt better Tuesday than he did Sunday morning in an on-field workout pregame used to determine he wasn’t able to go against Atlanta. But until he’s fully cleared to participate, Pittsburgh plans to set sail with Fields.

Wilson was limited on Wednesday, a pre-planned conditioning day, and worked behind Kyle Allen as the No. 3 quarterback.

Payton said he will “plan for Fields” but prepare players to expect Wilson to be available.

“We’re not playing tennis or golf. We’re playing a team game. We’re playing the Steelers,” Payton said.

Help was plentiful for Fields at Atlanta. The Steelers controlled the ball with 41 rushing attempts for 137 yards and Fields was 9 of 13 on play-action passes, consistently operating with his feet set in a clean pocket. Pittsburgh pitched a second-half shutout on the road last week with two interceptions and outside linebacker T.J. Watt had a game-ending sack and forced a fumble.

Payton is 3-0 all-time against Tomlin and the Broncos are 5-1 at home against the Steelers under Tomlin. Pittsburgh has won 10 of its last 12 games when facing a rookie starting quarterback.

Wilson costs the Broncos a record $53 million cap charge in 2024 and another $32 million next season while he’s making backup QB money for the Steelers on a one-year, $1.2 million contract. Wilson was benched late last season over a dispute with the Broncos about guarantees in his contract, then released in March. They traded five draft picks, two of them first-rounders, to acquire Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks in 2022.

The Steelers listed Wilson as well as rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) as questionable on Friday after they were limited at practice. Roman Wilson was carted off the field at training camp on July 30 and is recovering from a foot injury. Guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) did not practice and is out for Sunday’s game.

The only Denver player with a game designation is rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele (ribs), ruled out after making eight catches for 39 yards in his NFL debut against Seattle.

–Field Level Media

Falcons counting on Kirk Cousins to continue success vs. Eagles

Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins hopes the third time is the charm when the Falcons visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

It is the third straight season that Cousins has traveled to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 2 for a primetime game. He lost the previous two years while playing for the Minnesota Vikings, falling 24-7 on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 19, 2022, and 34-28 on “Thursday Night Football” on Sept. 14, 2023.

Atlanta (0-1) is coming off a season-opening 18-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cousins’ Falcons debut. He looked rusty during his first game since tearing his right Achilles tendon last October and first since signing a $180 million contract in March.

Cousins completed 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against the Steelers. He was also sacked twice and hit seven times as the Falcons operated almost exclusively from the pistol or shotgun, opting to avoid play-action with their 36-year-old signal-caller.

“We did not have a good game. He (Cousins) did not have a good game,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “We were very clear about that. There was no sugarcoating that.”

Including his time with NFC East rival Washington, Cousins has had success against Philadelphia with a 6-5 record and more career passing yards (3,341) and touchdown passes (26) against the Eagles than any other opponent. In last year’s game at the Linc, he completed 31 of 44 passes for 364 yards with four TDs and no INTs.

“He’s gonna bring the urgency,” Morris said of what he expects from Cousins. “He’s gonna bring everything he has to do in order to play better, to find a way to get that thing to the results that we want.”

Cousins will face some heat from the Eagles (1-0), who should be rested and recovered playing 10 days after their 34-29 defeat of Green Bay in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Linebacker Zack Baun recorded two sacks in his Philadelphia debut, matching his career total from 62 games with the New Orleans Saints (2020-23). His game-ending sack against Malik Willis, after Jordan Love left with a knee injury, preserved the win.

“A great indicator of how you’re going to play in games is how you practice,” coach Nick Sirianni said of Baun, who added a game-high 15 tackles with 11 solo stops. “You know, he’s been relentless to the football. Relentless effort. That really showed up.”

The Packers gained 414 yards against the Eagles but came away with only one touchdown in four trips to the red zone against new coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense.

On the other side of the ball, Philadelphia offset Jalen Hurts’ two interceptions and a fumbled exchange with new center Cam Jurgens with a big debut by Saquon Barkley (132 yards from scrimmage, three touchdowns).

The Eagles face an Atlanta defense that did not allow a touchdown to the Steelers, who settled for six field goals by Chris Boswell. Grady Jarrett had 1.5 sacks and Matt Judon added a half-sack and six tackles in his Falcons debut.

Sirianni is also concerned with stopping Bijan Robinson, who tallied 111 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 and who reminds the Philly coach of Barkley.

“He’s a really good football player who can create on his own,” Sirianni said. “Things can break down and he can still make a play.”

Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams (foot) was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. Linebacker Devin White (ankle) and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (hand) were full participants after missing Week 1.

Falcons linebacker Nate Landman (calf, quad) and cornerback Antonio Hamilton (groin) did not practice Thursday and right tackle Kaleb McGary (groin) was limited.

–Field Level Media

After miserable start, Giants QB Daniel Jones faces Commanders

If New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones faced Washington every week, he’d be on his way to the Hall of Fame.

In seven starts against the NFC East rival, Jones has a 5-1-1 record with 10 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 98.0 passer rating.

When the Giants (0-1) face the Commanders (0-1) on Sunday in Landover, Md., they will try to continue their Jones-led mastery of Washington.

A trip to the D.C. area might be the elixir for Jones, who was booed Sunday in the Meadowlands as the Giants lost 28-6 to the Minnesota Vikings.

Playing for the first time since undergoing surgery in November to repair a torn ACL, Jones threw two interceptions, including a pick-six.

He also was sacked five times on his way to completing 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards without a touchdown. Jones’ passer rating of 44.3 was the second worst among NFL starters last week.

This week as he has been peppered with questions about Jones, Giants coach Brian Daboll has largely addressed them from a team standpoint.

“I’d just say for all of us, we can all do a better job,” Daboll said.

Jones’ record against Washington is noteworthy, considering he has no more than two wins against any other NFL team. He has compiled a 17-36 mark against the rest of the league.

“Everybody here is rallying around Daniel,” Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr. said. “We’ve been seeing him this whole offseason. He’s been here the whole time. He’s been working really hard.”

There is considerably less pressure on Washington’s rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was one of the few bright spots in the Commanders’ 37-20 loss Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Daniels, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, completed 17 of 24 passes for 184 yards. He also rushed 16 times for a team-high 88 yards and two touchdowns.

Though the rushing numbers were impressive, Commanders coach Dan Quinn pointed out that most of Daniels’ carries were not designed runs.

“We’d love to see him remain a passer first, and I think it’s going to come with experience,” Quinn said.

In his first year with Washington, Quinn said that he wants the slightly built Daniels to be less eager to take off when he feels heat.

“Sometimes, getting outside the pocket you also remain a passer,” Quinn said. “He’s going to be an exceptional player. There are choices when to go, when to not. You do have to grow and learn into those.”

Quinn also wants to see Daniels take more downfield shots, especially to standout receiver Terry McLaurin, who had just two receptions for 17 yards on four targets.

Another area Washington needs to improve is its defense, which was riddled by Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw four touchdown passes and had the league’s highest passer rating in Week 1 at 146.4.

The Commanders and Giants got through Week 1 relatively healthy.

Washington cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, who injured his right thumb against the Bucs, will have surgery on Friday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament and will not play on Sunday, according to multiple reports. Forbes, who was a full participant on Wednesday and limited on Thursday, will wear a splint during practice, Quinn said on Wednesday.

The Commanders will have more information after the surgery to determine Forbes’ recovery time. Placing him on injured reserve will require him to miss at least four games.

Safety Tyler Owens (ankle) was limited in practice on Wednesday and a full participant on Thursday. Rookie defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, who was selected in the second round of the draft and is recovering from offseason foot surgeries, did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday. He could play on Sunday, Quinn said.

For New York, rookie linebacker Darius Muasau (knee), who had six tackles and an interception coming off the bench on Sunday, was added to the injured list and is day-to-day, according to Daboll. Muasau didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

Punt returner Gunner Olszewski (groin) will miss several weeks but has not yet been put on the injured reserve list. Also missing practice were wideout Darius Slayton (concussion) and cornerback Nick McCloud (knee). On Thursday, Slayton remained in concussion protocol but was limited in practice while McCloud and Olszewski missed practice, as did linebacker George Musso (knee). Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was limited in practice.

–Field Level Media

Deshaun Watson will start vs. Jags as Browns keep issues off field

NFL head coaches loathe distractions, but Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is dealing with a major one in Week 2.

Several days after Deshaun Watson was accused of a vicious sexual assault four years ago, he will start at quarterback when the Browns visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon.

Stefanski said the organization never considered having Watson sit out against Jacksonville.

“We’ll let due process play out and follow the NFL guidelines,” Stefanski said Wednesday. “We are 100 percent focused on Jacksonville, 100 percent focused on going on the road against a good football team and trying to find a way to get a ‘W.'”

The latest incident involving Watson overshadows a contest between two teams that lost their opening game of the season.

The Jaguars dropped a 20-17 decision to the host Miami Dolphins for their sixth setback in the past seven regular-season games. The Browns were beaten 33-17 by the visiting Dallas Cowboys as Watson was intercepted twice and sacked six times while passing for 169 yards and one touchdown.

One day after Cleveland’s dismal loss, a civil suit was filed Monday in Houston, alleging that Watson exposed himself and sexually assaulted a woman in her home.

During Watson’s time with the Houston Texas, he faced 24 claims of sexual misconduct from women, stemming from massage sessions. All but one of the cases were settled out of court, with the last one still pending. The NFL suspended him for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined him $5 million.

Just as he did in the previous cases, Watson denied the latest accusation. He said he is focused on the upcoming game.

“I focus on keeping the main thing the main thing,” Watson said of football. “That’s when I walk into this building, focusing on being the best quarterback that I can be, on the game plan and trying to be better than we were last week so we can get a ‘W.'”

Jacksonville also will be seeking improvement after letting a 17-7 halftime lead get away against the Dolphins.

The Jaguars failed on all five of their third-down conversion attempts in the second half and had just one first down in the fourth quarter.

“We’re better than how we finished,” Jaguars tight end Evan Engram said. “We feel like we’re a great team and we’re going to work to be a great team. But great teams finish.”

Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 162 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-21 passing.

Lawrence said he has put the Miami loss in the rearview mirror and doesn’t want to see the Jags fall into a 0-2 hole.

“Don’t get too high or too low,” Lawrence said Wednesday. “You can’t be down in the dumps too much and beat yourself up and let it affect your confidence.”

The big challenge for the Jaguars is rebounding quickly. They open the season by playing four consecutive 2023 playoff teams. The following two games are both on the road, against the Buffalo Bills on a Monday night and the Houston Texans.

Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett missed Thursday’s practice with a foot injury. He wasn’t on the injury report Wednesday. Garrett is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 14 sacks and four fumble recoveries last season.

Fellow defensive end Za’Darius Smith (back) also was added to the injury report and missed practice Thursday.

The Browns will be without tight end David Njoku, who injured an ankle in a loss to the Cowboys. Stefanski said the club is hopeful Njoku can avoid being placed on injured reserve.

Cleveland did put five defensive players on IR this week — defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (ankle), linebackers Tony Fields II (ankle) and Mohamoud Diabate (hip), safety Juan Thornhill (calf) and cornerback Myles Harden (shin).

Starting offensive tackles Jedrick Wills (knee) and Jack Conklin (knee) are making progress after missing the Dallas games. Conklin is practicing on a limited basis. He hasn’t played since sustaining a major injury to his right knee in the 2023 seasons opener.

Jacksonville cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

The Jaguars lead the series 12-7, but the Browns have won the past two. Last season, Cleveland never trailed while notching a 31-27 home victory in Week 14.

–Field Level Media