Nick Chubb out – Browns can’t let injuries be a crutch
By STEVE KING
The Browns are banged up as they get ready to host the Arizona Cardinals late Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium.
They’re really banged up, to be more specific. In fact, it’s been some time since their injury situation has been this iffy for a game.
Nick Chubb, one of the best running backs in the game, will not play. The offensive line is a mess, with left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., who just can’t seem to get healthy, unavailable once again.
Yes, the Browns are going to be without some of their A-listers as they try to derail the red-hot Cardinals, who are off to their first 5-0 start since 1974, 47 years ago, when they were still in St. Louis and playing at Busch Stadium.
But if the Browns lose, then those injuries can’t be an excuse. Just like questionable officiating — in the NFL, surely you jest? — is not a crutch, neither are injuries. They are part of the game. The Browns just need to put on their big-boy pants — it’s next man up, don’t ya know? — and deal with it.
In 1988, the Browns lost their starting quarterback to injuries five different times — Bernie Kosar twice, Gary Danielson, Mike Pagel and Don Strock — but still managed to finish 10-6 and make the playoffs. Why? Because the roster was so talented from top to bottom that they were able to override the revolving-door situation at quarterback.
The current roster is also supposed to be extremely talented from top to bottom, so much so that, if everyone is right in their assessments, the Browns should be able to override the injuries and keep going at a competent level.
Football is a violent game. It’s like playing Dodge-ems with real people, not cars.
So, then, it’s not a shock that injuries occur in such plentiful fashion. The key is not giving in to them.
And that’s what the Browns will have to do on Sunday — that is, if they’re as good as they think they are, and everyone says they are.
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