x
Breaking News
More () »

Cleveland Browns DE Olivier Vernon, DB Eric Murray ruled out for Sunday’s game vs. Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon and defensive back Eric Murray have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium.

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns will be a little thin on the front and back ends of the defense when they take on the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Sunday afternoon.

Following Friday’s practice, the Browns declared that defensive end Olivier Vernon and versatile defensive back Eric Murray were declared out for Sunday’s game. Vernon suffered a knee injury in last week’s 24-19 loss at the Denver Broncos while Murray is recovering from knee surgery.

In addition to Vernon and Murray, the Browns ruled out tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, who was helped off the field last Sunday when he was tackled with a shoulder pad to the kneecap, is questionable for the game.

RELATED | ‘He is ready.’ Odell Beckham Jr. sees focused mindset from Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt

Starting safety Damarious Randall is listed as questionable after missing the last two games while tending to hamstring injuries, but he was back on the practice field during the week as the Browns went through their preparations for the start of the second half of the season.

Randall missed two games earlier this year with a concussion, but in four starts at safety, he has registered 20 total tackles, including 15 solo stops and five assists, the first two sacks of his NFL career, which resulted in nine lost yards, and three passes defended.

Currently, the Browns are 2-6 overall and four games in back of the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North Division after going on a four-game losing streak, with three of those losses coming on the road.

Credit: Ron Schwane/AP
Cleveland Browns strong safety Damarious Randall (23) celebrates after breaking up a pass during the first half of the regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

RELATED | Cleveland Browns ‘can’t pinpoint reason’ for missed tackles

The Browns have returned to Cleveland and will play three straight home games before venturing out once again in early December, but regardless of where those matchups are played, Randall understands the focus has to be on winning.

“We’ve got to win games, brother,” Randall said following Wednesday’s practice, his first since suffering the hamstring injury two weeks ago. “I don’t care where the game’s at. The game could be on the moon. It was unacceptable and we’ve got to start winning games.

“We’ve been overcoming adversity the whole entire year. Guys have been banged up, beat up, so next man up and we’re just going to keep pushing.”

Like Randall and Seals-Jones, offensive lineman Kendall Lamm is questionable with a knee injury.

RELATED | ‘No doubt.’ Kareem Hunt ready to make an impact for Cleveland Browns

RELATED | The rest of the Cleveland Browns season is all about Baker Mayfield: Bud Shaw’s Sports Spin

RELATED | Damarious Randall: After ‘unacceptable’ start, Cleveland Browns have ‘got to win games’

RELATED | Baker Mayfield ‘hoping for immediate impact’ from Kareem Hunt in Cleveland Browns debut

Before You Leave, Check This Out