Playing Denver on Thursday night a blessing
By STEVE KING
The defense is making the most of a short week to correct mistakes.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 18, 2021
After what has happened the last two weeks, seemingly the last thing the Browns need is to have to play another game on Thursday.
Indeed, they need first and foremost to lick their wounds and get their house in order after two straight defeats, dropping their record to 3-3, dropping them from a tie for first place in the AFC North to a tie for last place and dropping their confidence to its lowest level in more than a calendar year.
But in the next breath, playing a game, as they do when they entertain the 3-3 Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday Night Football, is exactly what the doctor ordered. For in having to get back out there again right away, the Browns can’t dwell on all the negative. They don’t have time. They’ve immediately had to turn their attention to the task at hand and move up their usual weekly preparation schedule by three whole days.
It was early last season when the Browns, following a 38-6 drubbing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens in the opener, had to make a quick turnaround and face the Cincinnati n on Thursday Night Football at home. They responded with a wild 35-30 win and in doing so got that bad taste out of their mouths and got their season back on track as it was the first of four straight victories.
The Browns are now tied for third — last — place in the division with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who, despite all of their early problems, have won two straight, including an overtime decision over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football just three days ago. They are both looking up at the streaking Baltimore Ravens (5-1), fresh off a beatdown of a Los Angeles Chargers team that edged the Browns a week and a half ago, and the surprising Bengals (4-2).
Lest the Browns bury themselves too deeply this early in the season, they’ve got to start putting some wins together, and that process begins against Denver.
Browns sign RB John Kelly to active roster, place RB Kareem Hunt and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on IR
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have signed RB John Kelly to the active roster from the practice squad and placed RB Kareem Hunt (calf) and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (ankle) on injured reserve. The club also restored WR Ja’Marcus Bradley to the practice squad from practice squad/injured.
Kelly is 5-10, 208 pounds and in his third NFL season out of Tennessee. Originally a sixth-round pick by the Rams in 2018, Kelly has appeared in eight career games and recorded 30 carries for 83 yards and two receptions for 27 yards. He has spent the entire 2021 season on the Browns’ practice squad. Kelly will wear No. 49.
Hunt has appeared in all six games this season and is leading the team with five rushing touchdowns with 361 yards. He is also leading the team with 20 receptions for 161 yards.
Owusu-Koramoah, a second-round pick this season, has appeared in all six games with five starts. He is leading the team with 27 tackles, while adding four passes defensed, one forced fumble and half of a sack.
*Any player going on injured reserve at this point in the season with a major injury is allowed to return after missing only three games, and teams may return an unlimited number of players from injured reserve throughout the year.
Key dates ahead
Oct 21: Week 7 vs. Denver, 8:20 p.m.
Oct 31: Week 8 vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Nov. 2: NFL trade deadline, 4 p.m.
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