CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Browns return to action, they could do so with multiple starters returning to their lineup on the defensive side of the ball.
Ahead of Sunday's showdown with the Washington Football Team, linebacker Mack Wilson (knee), cornerback Greedy Williams (shoulder) and nickel back Kevin Johnson (liver) each participated in Monday's practice. While head coach Kevin Stefanski said final determinations on each player's availability will not be made until later this week, the presence of all three players at practice served as an encouraging sign that they will be able to play against Washington after having missed each of the Browns' first two games of the 2020 season.
The return of three starters could provide a significant boost for a Cleveland defense that's averaging 34 points allowed through the first two weeks of the season. After losing to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 38-6 in Week 1, the Browns bounced back with a 35-30 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football in Week 2.
As one might have expected, both Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow found success facing a Browns secondary without its No. 2 cornerback in Williams and Johnson, who could very well take over as the starting nickel back upon returning. Safety Grant Delpit suffered a torn Achilles in training camp and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2020 season, while his potential replacement, Ronnie Harrison, has yet to find a spot in the starting lineup after being acquired in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars prior to the start of the season.
Meanwhile, Wilson's absence has only been amplified by an injury suffered by his understudy and 2020 third-round pick Jacob Phillips. The Browns have also been hit with the injury bug on their defensive line, with both Olivier Vernon (abdomen) and Adrian Clayborn (hip) not participating in Monday's practice after suffering injuries last week.