T.J.

Ward

Ward, 34, spent last season on the Cardinals’ practice squad. He last appeared in a game in 2017 with the Bucs. Ward was a two-time Pro Bowler and a member of the “No Fly Zone” secondary that led Denver to a Super Bowl 50 win. A 2010 second-round pick, Ward finishes with 607 tackles, eight interceptions, and 10 forced fumbles in his eight years in the league.

Starting safety Budda Baker won’t play this week after undergoing surgery to repair a ligament in his thumb. Jalen Thompson, the team’s other safety, was placed on IR last month with an ankle injury. And backup Chris Banjo has been hobbled by a hamstring injury that could keep him out of this week’s game against the Panthers. The Cardinals are considering deploying first-round draft pick LB Isaiah Simmons at safety, according to the team’s website. Simmons this season has been targeted four times, resulting in four receptions, 94 yards, and two touchdowns. Teddy Bridgewater and the Carolina receivers could be in for a nice day against this Arizona secondary.

Out of the league last season, this is the first visit for Ward in the past year. He most recently made four starts for the Bucs in ’17, finishing as a perennial bust. He would purely be used as depth if making the team.

Ward never required surgery and insists he could play tomorrow if needed. Pro Football Focus graded Ward as a top-10 safety in the eight games he did play before the injury.

Ward’s backup, Usama Young, is also sitting out practices with a hip injury. Ward is tied for third on the Browns in tackles (39) and also has a sack and a forced fumble. Cleveland may be forced to turn to rookie Eric Hagg.

Ward says he “hopes” to play Sunday, but conceded that the foot is still bothering him. He’s likely at least two weeks away from a return. In the meantime, Usama Young has made 31 tackles in five starts as the Browns’ strong safety.

The Browns had been holding out hope that Ward could return from his sprained right foot, but he hasn’t made progress since resuming running two weeks ago. The 2010 second-rounder had emerged as a thumper in run support prior to the injury. Usama Young will continue to fill in, though Ward will return as the starter in 2012.

Ward had his original cast taken off Monday and then had another cast put on. He’ll soon be fitted for a walking boot to protect his sprain. Ward’s initial timetable, set a week ago, was 4-6 weeks.

The Browns often use Ward to cover opposing tight ends as well as to play in the box, so this is an upgrade for Steven Jackson’s Week 10 fantasy matchup. Despite missing early-week practices with a hip injury, Usama Young will start.

It’s likely a fracture of some kind, because Ward’s foot has been in a cast all week after he injured it in last Sunday’s loss to the Texans. Usama Young will take over as Cleveland’s starting strong safety indefinitely. Ward’s loss is a sizable blow to the Browns’ top-ranked NFL pass defense, but will be felt much more against the run. Through the season’s first nine weeks, Pro Football Focus has graded Ward as the NFL’s No. 1 safety in run support.