Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson will be missing a couple of receiving targets for Sunday’s home game against the Dolphins.
The Browns have ruled tight end David Njoku and wide receiver Cedric Tillman out for the contest. Njoku has a knee injury and did not practice all week while Tillman was limited in practice as he tries to work his way through the concussion protocol.
Njoku was targeted 10 times last weekend and Tillman was high school teammates with the quarterback, so both are players that Thompson-Robinson would likely have looked to often against Miami.
The Browns also ruled out defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo with a knee injury. Quarterback Jameis Winson (right shoulder) is listed as questionable after serving as the third quarterback last Sunday.
Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle practiced on Thursday for the first time since hurting his knee in Week 15 and head coach Mike McDaniel offered an update on his outlook for Sunday’s game against the Browns during a Friday press conference.
Waddle was a limited participant in practice and McDaniel told reporters that he is optimistic about the team’s chances of having Waddle in the lineup against Cleveland. Friday’s practice will bring another chance to evaluate where things stand and McDaniel indicated that Waddle will carry a questionable tag into the road game.
Waddle has 54 catches for 700 yards and two touchdowns for the Dolphins so far this season.
The team’s full injury designations will be released later on Friday, but McDaniel said linebacker Anthony Walker will miss the game against his former team due to a knee injury.
After last Sunday’s win over the 49ers, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill said that a couple of dropped passes in the game could be attributed to not having enough practice reps with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this season.
Hill’s comment made sense because he’s missed practice time with a wrist injury that has kept him on the injury report for much of the season. On Thursday, wide receivers coach Wes Welker said that another injury that hasn’t been disclosed by the team has also been a factor in keeping the two players from getting their regular dose of practice work.
“The hard part is he’s dealing with the wrist,” Welker said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “He’s got an ankle. There’s always stuff through the year. As you get older, you get all those reps of knowing how to play the position. How do we put the best product out there on Sunday with being able to be fresh on Sunday? It’s a fine balance of being able to get that done. It’s definitely something we can revisit this offseason and come up with a plan. When guys do have stuff and are trying to play through, just trusting your players. How are you feeling today? Roll from there.”
Not disclosing the injury is an issue for the league, but figuring out ways to keep Hill healthy and in sync with the quarterback will be issues for the Dolphins to deal with as they move toward the 2025 season.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start at quarterback against the Dolphins as long as his calf is feeling well and it looks like he will be good to go on Sunday.
Thompson-Robinson said on Thursday, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, that he was feeling “tightness” in the calf, but that he has received extra treatment over the last few days. He said he “feels great” now and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey also indicated earlier in the day that he’s on track to face Miami.
Thompson-Robinson made his first start of the season in last Sunday’s loss to the Bengals and went 20-of-34 for 157 yards and two interceptions. He also ran nine times for 49 yards and took five sacks.
Jameis Winston had been the Browns’ starter, but he was benched after Week 15 and he was inactive with a right shoulder injury last weekend. Bailey Zappe was the No. 2 quarterback against the Bengals.
Veteran edge rusher Shaq Barrett could return to the field before the 2024 season is over.
Barrett’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN that the Dolphins have agreed to waive Barrett. Barrett retired ahead of the season, but expressed interest in returning to action late last month. The Dolphins opted not to activate him or release him at that point, but have changed course now and Barrett will be eligible to play in Week 18 and the postseason if he clears waivers and signs with another team. If he’s claimed, he will not be able to play as he would remain on the reserve/retired list.
“We appreciate the Dolphins giving Shaq this opportunity to continue his career in the NFL,” Rosenhaus said. “Hopefully he will pass through waivers and become a free agent so he can play again this season. He is in great shape and would be ready to play immediately.”
Barrett had 4.5 sacks for the Buccaneers last season and has 59 sacks for his career, so he could provide a boost to the pass rush of a team headed for the playoffs. That might be enough of a reason for another contender without that need to claim him and keep him from returning to the field, so it will be interesting to see how things play out.
