The Browns lost again on Sunday and that meant that head coach Kevin Stefanski faced a familiar question at his postgame press conference.
Stefanski was asked if Deshaun Watson will remain the quarterback for the 1-5 club. Stefanski said that there will not be a change after losing to the Eagles 20-16.
“I thought there were some good moments,” Stefanski said, via a transcript from the Eagles. “You know, we need to protect. We need to keep him clean when we can. That’s a good front. I thought the guys battled like crazy. Had some decent opportunities there, but got to find a way to be more explosive.”
Watson was 16-of-23 for 168 yards and went 11-of-22 for 122 yards in the second half, so it was a better performance that some of the others that Watson has put on the field so far this season. The result was still a loss, though, and frustrations with the offense will continue to rise as long as the Browns keep winding up on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Browns running back Nick Chubb won’t be playing against the Eagles on Sunday, but his long-awaited return to action may not be too much further away.
Chubb was designated to return from the physically unable to perform list last week and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Chubb is expected to play against the Bengals in Week Seven. Chubb needs to be activated by October 23 or he will not be eligible to return at all this season.
Chubb injured his knee in Week Two last season and had a pair of surgeries to address damage to his meniscus, MCL and ACL.
Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman, and Pierre Strong will remain the team’s running back options against Philadelphia.
The NFL is continuing to let players know that gesturing as if shooting a gun or otherwise depicting violence is not allowed on the field.
Three more players were fined this week for violent gestures.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was fined $19,697, Jaguars safety Andre Cisco was fined $14,069 and Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea was also fined $14,069, all for what the NFL termed “Unsportsmanlike Conduct (violent gesture).”
Players who make violent gestures are also subject to 15-yard penalties if the officials see it.
Many NFL players have complained that celebrations like finger guns are harmless, but at this point the league has made it clear that both the on-field officials and the league’s disciplinary department are keeping an eye out and that sanctions will be coming. Every coach should have made it clear to his players by now that any gesture that could possibly be interpreted as violent will not be tolerated.
The Giants have added a punter who may need to be pressed into action on Sunday night against the Bengals.
Veteran Matt Haack signed with the Giants today, his agents announced.
That comes a day after the Giants added punter Jamie Gillan to their injury report with a left hamstring injury. He is listed as questionable for the game against the Bengals.
Haack has spent time with the Dolphins, Bills, Colts, Cardinals and Browns during his NFL career. He has been out of the league since he was cut by the Bills this offseason.
The Giants will not have Malik Nabers but they may have Devin Singletary back for Sunday’s matchup with the Bengals.
New York has listed Singletary (groin) as questionable for Week 6.
Singletary was a limited participant in all three days of practice this week. He missed last week’s win over the Seahawks.
In four games this year, Singletary has rushed for 221 yards with two touchdowns. He’s also caught 10 passes for 72 yards.
The Giants also added punter Jamie Gillan to the report with a left hamstring injury on Friday and he is questionable. New York does not have another punter on its practice squad.
Receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (shoulder) is also questionable.
Nabers (concussion) and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) are out.
