It has mostly been a season to forget for the Browns, but one member of the team’s solid rookie class was able to do something a little special to open Sunday’s game against the Bills.
Tight end Harold Fannin set a new Browns rookie record for receptions before catching a 13-yard touchdown to give Cleveland an early 7-0 lead over the Bills.
Fannin’s 67th catch of the season came on first-and-10 from the Cleveland 45, with Shedeur Sanders connecting with Fannin on the right side for an 11-yard gain.
Later on the possession, Sanders again hit Fannin on the right side, this time with the tight end wide open and easily going in for his fifth touchdown of the year.
Sanders has started the game 5-of-5 for 58 yards with a TD.
The Bills will try to wrap up a playoff berth without the help of wide receiver Keon Coleman on Sunday.
Coleman is inactive for Buffalo’s game in Cleveland. Coleman was not on the injury report at all this week, but will miss his third game of the season. Coleman was scratched for disciplinary reasons earlier this year, but Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports Sunday’s deactivation is solely a coach’s decision. Coleman was a 2024 second-round pick and he has 36 catches for 355 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Mecole Hardman, who was activated from injured reserve this week, is active.
The Bills need a win and a loss by either the Texans or Colts in order to book a playoff berth. A win will also help their chances of ending the season as the AFC East champs for the sixth straight season.
Bills at Browns
Bills: WR Keon Coleman, WR Gabe Davis, DT Jordan Phillips, K Matt Prater, OL Tylan Grable, DB Darnell Savage, DT Larry Ogunjobi
Browns: CB Denzel Ward, RB Dylan Sampson, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Wyatt Teller, WR Jamari Thrash, TE David Njoku, DT Sam Kamara
Buccaneers at Panthers
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, TE Devin Culp, G Elijah Klein, WR Sterling Shepard, DL Elijah Simmons, LB Anthony Walker, S Rashad Wisdom
Panthers: WR Hunter Renfrow, LB Trevin Wallace, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, OT Ikem Ekwonu, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Jets at Saints
Jets: QB Justin Fields, TE Mason Taylor, DT Mazi Smith, LB Kiko Mauigoa, DT Payton Page, DE Eric Watts
Saints: RB Alvin Kamara, OL Cesar Ruiz, OL Asim Richards, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, S Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, DT Khristian Boyd
Chiefs at Titans
Chiefs: WR Rashee Rice, CB Trent McDuffie, OT Jaylon Moore, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Dameon Pierce, OL CJ Hanson, DT Derrick Nnadi
Titans: OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley, LB Cedric Gray, S Erick Hallett
Chargers at Cowboys
Chargers: WR Derius Davis, S RJ Mickens, EDGE Bud Dupree, OL Branson Taylor, OT Trey Pipkins, TE Tyler Conklin
Cowboys: DT Quinnen Williams, WR Jalen Tolbert, CB Caelen Carson, RB Jaydon Blue, DT Jay Toia, OT Tyler Guyton
Vikings at Giants
Vikings: LB Austin Keys, DT Javon Hargrave, OT Walter Rouse, QB John Wolford
Giants: LB Caleb Murphy, WR Ryan Miller, WR Jalin Hyatt, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, G Jon Runyan, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, QB Russell Wilson
Bengals at Dolphins
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, DB Brayln Lux, S P.J. Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Noah Fant, DT Jordan Jefferson
Dolphins: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Isaiah Johnson, T Kendall Lamm, WR Tahj Washington, DT Matthew Butler, QB Tua Tagovailoa
Cornerback Christian Benford is set to return to action for the Bills.
Benford has no injury designation for Sunday’s game against the Browns. Benford scored touchdowns in Bills wins in Weeks 13 and 14 before missing last Sunday’s win over the Patriots.
Linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow), left tackle Dion Dawkins (illness), and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) are also off of the injury report. Bernard has missed the team’s last three games while the other two players returned to practice after sitting out on Wednesday and Thursday.
Head coach Sean McDermott announced on Friday morning that kicker Matt Prater (right quad), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle), and offensive tackle Chase Lundt (knee) will not play. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman (calf) and defensive back Cam Lewis (hamstring) are listed as questionable.
The Bills won’t have three players for their matchup against the Browns on Sunday, but one of their key offensive contributors is trending toward being on the field.
In his weekly Friday interview with WGR550, head coach Sean McDermott ruled out kicker Matt Prater (right quad), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle), and offensive tackle Chase Lundt (knee) for Week 16.
But McDermott told reporters that tight end Dalton Kincaid is set to practice on Friday after missing the first two days of the week with a knee injury. McDermott noted the Bills are trying to manage the knee injury as best they can this time of year and that Kincaid did not suffer a setback.
Kincaid has been back for the team’s last two games, catching four passes for 41 yards in the win over Cincinnati before recording three receptions for 34 yards in last week’s victory over New England.
Left tackle Dion Dawkins is also set to practice on Friday after missing the week’s first two days with an illness.
Buffalo’s full injury report with game statuses will be released later in the day.
The Bills added three players to their injury report on Thursday.
Punter Mitch Wishnowsky (right knee), defensive back Cam Lewis (hamstring) and offensive tackle Chase Lundt (knee) were limited after not being on the report on Wednesday.
Offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (illness), tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle) and kicker Matt Prater (right quad) remained out of practice on Thursday.
Cornerback Christian Benford (toe) again was limited, and linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and wide receiver Mecole Hardman (calf) returned to full participation after being limited on Wednesday.
Cornerback Taron Johnson (quad) and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf) were downgraded to limited after full participation on Wednesday.
