Jordan

Hicks

Linebacker Jordan Hicks remains out with an elbow injury. Ward missed the first two practices of the week but was back on the field on Friday. He will need to make it through the league’s concussion protocols before being cleared for Week 9. Ward leads the NFL with 13 pass breakups this year.

Pocic suffered a knee injury in Week 5 against the Commanders and didn’t suit up for Week 6. Pocic was limited in Thursday’s practice and could have a shot to suit up on Sunday if he can get on the field again on Friday. If he can’t go, backup Nick Harris will be scheduled for another start. In addition to Pocic, the Browns also listed safety Juan Thornhill (calf), and linebacker Jordan Hicks (elbow/triceps) as questionable.

Hicks was active for Week 4 despite entering the game with rib and elbow injuries. He only managed to play a few snaps before exiting. The tricep issue was added to his injury report this week. Cleveland could be without Hicks for a few weeks as he nurses a myriad of injuries.

Hicks attempted to play through the rib and elbow injuries last week but only made it five snaps. The tricep issue is a new addition to his status on the injury report. He looks unlikely to suit up in Week 5. Myles Garrett (Achilles) did not practice on Wednesday. He didn’t practice last Wednesday either but was cleared from the injury report entirely by Friday. Garrett is likely on a strict workload management routine and should be expected to play this week, despite the DNP.

Hicks was the only Browns player with a questionable tag heading into Sunday. Inactive for the Browns are QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, RB Pierre Strong Jr., CB Kahlef Hailassie, OT Jedrick Wills Jr., OT Jack Conklin, WR Jamari Thrash and TE David Njoku.

Hicks, soon to be 32 years old, spent the last two years in Minnesota. He missed four games in 2023 because of a shin injury but was productive when healthy, racking up 107 tackles, four TFLs, and one sack. He also broke up five passes and scored a touchdown on one of his two fumble recoveries. The eight-year NFL veteran is still a high-end starter. For a Cleveland team that may be forced to rely on their world-class defense to win games once again, the Hicks addition is a strong one given how little it will cost.

Hicks suffered a bruised shin, spending time in the hospital and getting a procedure done for compartment syndrome. The veteran has been a key starter on the Vikings, spending the last two seasons with the team. The Vikings have put Hicks on injured reserve, sidelining him at least four games. Rookie Ivan Pace Jr. will step into a bigger role while LB Anthony Barr was signed to the Vikings’ practice squad for depth. The team also added RB Myles Gaskin to the practice squad.

Hicks signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings last offseason, and helps the team free up cap space with his restructured deal. In 17 games with the Vikings, Hicks, 30, totaled 129 tackles and three sacks while recording one interception. Retaining Hicks became a bit more of a priority for the Vikings after they released linebacker Eric Kendricks to free up cap space.

Another $2 million is available through incentives, while a decent $6.5 million of the deal is guaranteed. Cut by the Cardinals six days ago, 29-year-old Hicks has been a full-time starter since 2016 in Philadelphia. He spent the past three years in the desert. An every-down player, Hicks predictably thumps the run while being mostly replacement level everywhere else. The Vikings were bad against the run in 2021, though Eric Kendricks remains the man in the middle. Hicks will line up alongside Kendricks and attempt to make the middle of the field a more dangerous place for rival runners.

Hicks was supposed to take a backseat to Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons last year. The two first-round picks were the future for Arizona while Hicks turned 29 before the start of the 2021 season. In response, Hicks sought a trade but no buyer was found. He stayed in Arizona for a final season and ultimately held off Collins to keep the starting role. Hicks recorded 116 combined tackles and four sacks while starting all 17 games. The Cardinals will move forward with their tandem of young linebackers while Hicks should draw plenty of interest as an experienced interior linebacker still playing at a high level.