9.23.22: Browns, Jerry, Brady/Rodgers, Notable, Burrow, JPP

Browns

TNF: Amari Cooper and David Njoku lead the Browns to a key victory over the Steelers

Cooper: Cooper took on a workhouse role, reeling in 7-of-11 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown. His production (19-219-2) through three games has more than justified the fifth-round pick the Browns used to acquire him with back in March.

Njoku: Njoku had one of the best games of his career, catching 9-of-10 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. He is paying early dividends on his $54 million contract extension.

• Jacoby Brissett deserves credit for getting his top two pass-catchers involved.
• The Browns’ running game — led by Nick Chubb (113 yards and a touchdown) — was unsurprisingly fantastic.

Trubisky: Mitch Trubisky — 20-of-32, 207 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions — was a disappointment again and his receivers expressed noticeable frustration on the sidelines with his inability to get them the ball.

• Despite the poor performance, Mike Tomlin told reporters that he is not considering a quarterback change.

Catch of the Year: George Pickens made a truly unbelievable one-handed catch in the first quarter. Many pundits are comparing it to Odell Beckham’s famous grab in 2014. Watch it here.

Next Up: The Browns (2-1) visit the Falcons (0-2) in Week 4. The Steelers (1-2) host the Jets (1-1).

Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire

Jerry

Jerry Jones says he would welcome a QB controversy

Details: Jones told reporters he hopes backup Cooper Rush plays well enough to threaten Dak Prescott’s hold on the starting job.

• Jones, when asked if he’d welcome the controversy: "Of course I would. Of course. That means we'd have won. If he comes in there and plays as well as Prescott played, Rush? Played that well over these next games ahead? I'd walk to New York to get that."

2016: Jones went on to compare the situation to 2016… when Prescott took over for an injured Tony Romo and never gave the starting job back.

BS? While Rush played well in the Cowboys’ upset win over the Bengals last week, he does not possess the physical talent to realistically threaten Prescott’s job. If anything, Jones is simply trying to instill some confidence in Rush… and/or create juicy headlines to keep his perennially underperforming team in the spotlight.

More Cowboys News...

• Michael Gallup practiced in full and will play — on a pitch count — Monday night against the Giants.
• Micah Parsons has more pass-rush wins than the Giants, Patriots, Colts, 49ers, Jets, Saints, and Packers this season.

Image: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire

Brady/Rodgers

Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers get positive offensive line news

Brady: Brady’s left tackle, Donovan Smith, returned to practice on Thursday, which puts him on track for Sunday’s matchup.

• Smith missed last week’s game against the Saints with a hyperextended elbow.
• Smith’s impending return saves Brady from having his blindside protected by unproven third-stringer Brandon Walton.

Rodgers: Rodgers’ left tackle, David Bakhtiari, got in a limited session on Thursday. The former All-Pro has not been fully healthy since suffering a complicated ACL injury on Dec. 31, 2020.

• His return would help Rodgers survive a Bucs’ pass rush unit that leads the league in sacks.

TB WR Injuries: Julio Jones (knee) and Chris Godwin (hamstring) have yet to practice this week. With Mike Evans suspended, Brady’s top receivers could be Russell Gage, Breshad Permian, and the recently signed Cole Beasley.

GB WR Injuries: Allen Lazard (ankle), Randall Cobb (illness), Christian Watson (hamstring), and Sammy Watkins (hamstring) all missed practice on Thursday… so Romeo Doubs could be in store for an expanded role.

Odds: The Bucs are 2-point home favorites.

Image: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire

TOGETHER WITH STATHEAD

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Who is the heaviest player in the league this year?

1. Trent Brown
2. Jordan Mailata
3. Marquan McCall
4. Daniel Faalele

Notable

Notable Injury Updates: Christian McCaffrey, Jerry Jeudy, and James Conner

McCaffrey: McCaffrey was added to Thursday's injury report with a stiff ankle. Though he fully expects to play against the Saints this week.

• McCaffrey has totaled 185 scrimmage yards (135 rushing, 50 receiving) and a touchdown this season.
• D’Onta Foreman is his top backup.

Jeudy: Jeudy, who is dealing with a rib and shoulder injury, dressed for yesterday’s practice but did not participate. If he does not get in a limited session today, he should be considered unlikely to play against the 49ers on Sunday night.

• His absence would lead to even more targets for Courtland Sutton and running backs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon.

Conner: James Conner was spotted running at practice on Thursday, which is a sign he’ll be available against the Rams. Though if he does miss the game, Darrel Williams and Eno Benjamin will carry the load.

Image: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire

Burrow

Joe Burrow is on pace to be sacked an NFL-record 110.5 times this season

Details: Burrow has been sacked 13 times through two weeks. If that pace continues, he’ll break the record in Week 12.

• The current record holder — David Carr — was sacked 76 times in 2002.

No Improvement: Cincinnati invested heavily in supposed offensive line upgrades this past offseason — but to this point, the returns have clearly been disappointing.

• To make matters worse, new right tackle La’el Collins could miss this week’s matchup against the Jets with a back injury.

Coaching: Part of the issue is coaching, as the Bengals have been slow to adapt to the Cover 2 formation opposing defenses are scheming against them — which forces Burrow to hold onto the ball longer.

Cover 2: Cover 2, as described by Ben Baby (ESPN), “features two players each protecting a deep half of the field and another defender taking up a zone underneath them.”

Ja'Marr: Ja’Marr Chase, who was held to 5 catches last week, recently told reporters: “People just know how to adjust to us now. I feel like we need to learn how to make more adjustments in the game. Everybody knows what we’re going to do now.”

Turnaround: The winless Bengals have an opportunity to make those adjustments and turn things around this Sunday against the Jets — who are 6-point home underdogs.

Image: Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire

JPP

Ravens sign OLB Jason Pierre-Paul

Details: The deal is for one year and is worth up to $5.5 million.

Profile: Pierre-Paul, 33, played through a season-long shoulder injury in Tampa last season. He totaled 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

• In 2020, Pierre-Paul recorded 9.5 sacks and played a key role in the Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning defense.

Fit: JPP should see immediate and meaningful playing time, as the Ravens were down to only two healthy outside linebackers — Justin Houston and Odafe Oweh.

• Pass-rush productivity was an issue in the Ravens’ crushing fourth-quarter collapse last Sunday against the Dolphins.

More OLB Help: The Ravens should get Tyus Bowser (PUP) back in a few weeks. Second-round rookie David Ojabo (Achilles) also has a chance of making a late-season debut.

Image: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire

More News

• Browns LBs Jeremiah Owsusu-Koramoah (groin) and Anthony Walker (knee) suffered potentially serious injuries
• Steelers CB Ahkello Witherspoon tore his ACL
• Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ribs) and WR Keenan Allen (hamstring) were limited in practice
• Chargers C Corey Linsley (knee) and CB JC Jackson (ankle) did not practice
• Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers (knee) did not practice
• Ravens RB JK Dobbins (knee) practiced in full
• Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz (knee) did not practice
• Bills S Jordan Poyer (foot) did not practice
• Bills WR Gabe Davis (ankle) was limited in practice

TOGETHER WITH STATHEAD

QUESTION OF THE DAY (Answer)

Answer: Trent Brown and Daniel Faalele

• Trent Brown: 380
• Daniel Faalele: 380
• Marquan McCall: 379
• Jordan Mailata: 365

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