Jones out 3-5 weeks, Stallworth not practicing

By Neal Coolong  |   Thursday, September 11, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

Cleveland Browns
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Injuries are affecting the entire AFC, and Cleveland is no different.

Browns safety Sean Jones is out 3-5 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair cartilage damage. With S Brodney Pool still recovering from a concussion, the team isn't rushing him back onto the field, even for its Week 2 showdown against rival Pittsburgh. Pool missed the Browns' Week 1 loss to Dallas, but he returned to practice Wednesday. If he still isn't able to play, the Browns will start Mike Adams and Nick Sorensen, two special teams players.

Commentary: We've seen this story in Cleveland before. Multiple injuries for multiple weeks. This time, the Browns are being hit in their biggest question area, the defensive secondary. Sorensen, an eight-year veteran, has never started a game, which is good news for a Steelers aerial attack that torched Houston's overmatched safety combination last weekend. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger exploited their safeties for two touchdown passes, which were to wide receiver Hines Ward, and a 13-of-14 day.

Cleveland's youngest cornerbacks, Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright, had a tough time with All-Pro WR Terrell Owens in Week 1, while the safeties had difficulty with tight end Jason Witten. Pittsburgh rolls into Cleveland with WRs Ward and Santonio Holmes and TEs Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth. Being without linebacker Antwan Peek (placed on IR with a torn patella tendon) and LB Beau Bell (arthroscopic knee surgery on Aug. 7) won't help the situation for the Browns, either.

That's just on defense. Offensively, WR Donte' Stallworth suffered a strained quadriceps in warm-ups before the game against Dallas, but he hasn't been ruled out of the Week 2 game. They've been without WR Joe Jurevicius, whose knee surgery and three separate staph infections forced him on the PUP list through Week 6. Guard Rex Hadnot missed the Dallas game, and could return for Pittsburgh.

On the plus side, kick returner Josh Cribbs returned to practice Wednesday after suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason. He shredded the Steelers last season for over 200 return yards and a touchdown in a 31-28 loss.

Fan Pulse: On the Browns Board, fans are expressing their frustration over another season with a rash of injuries, but they aren't giving up hope.

Fantasy Football Impact: The Browns were without Stallworth against Dallas, and the offense failed to move the ball. Look for WR Braylon Edwards to step up as Cleveland will pull out all the stops to avoid a disastrous 0-2 start in its first of five prime-time games this season.

Injury Watch: The Steelers aren't expected to lose any starters for the game. For the Browns, along with Jones and Stallworth, TE Martin Rucker did not practice Wednesday.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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