CLEVELAND -- And the hits just keep on coming for the Cleveland Browns as they prepare to take on the Miami Dolphins in an inter-division game at Hard Rock Stadium in south Florida Sunday afternoon.
Already down a pair of quarterbacks because of Robert Griffin III’s broken bone in his non-throwing shoulder and Josh McCown suffering a left shoulder/collarbone injury in a 25-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday, the Browns may be without the services of defensive back Joe Haden and kicker Patrick Murray when they take the field against the Dolphins.
Haden and Murray were both injured during practice earlier in the week.
“He has just got a groin,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said of Haden after Friday’s walk-through. “I know everybody has to go on these lists. Everybody has to check everything, but yesterday after practice, he had a little groin strain. We will see how bad it is, but I don’t anticipate it being an issue. We will see. He is on the injury report, so we have to go by the report.”
Haden’s injury came less than a week after he collected a pair of interceptions and nearly had a third takeaway against Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
“He really did for a guy that missed -- I don’t think he practiced until probably the 10th practice or so of training camp because of the offseason surgery,” Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton said.
“I think I said this when we first came back, not so much his physical look because I can’t tell how he feels, but for sure, the look in his eye and just the excitement in his voice. I think he is on a mission. I really do.”
Should Haden be out of the lineup, the Browns could turn to veteran defensive back Tramon Williams to start at cornerback against the Dolphins.
“There is a possibility,” Jackson said. “We would have to look at our team and just see exactly where we are. We have had quite a few guys back there practicing. Like I said, Joe was at practice yesterday, and obviously, these things spring up. We will see where we are.”
In addition to Haden, Browns kicker Patrick Murray suffered an injury in practice, and his status for Sunday has yet to be determined.
Despite the mounting number of injuries to all phases of the team, Jackson believes his players have maintained a high level of focus throughout the week of practice.
“They have had a great week,” Jackson said. “These guys are resilient. I haven’t sensed one guy that has fallen off the boat. These guys are working hard. We know we have a big game this week. I give a lot of that credit to our veteran players. Those guys have done a great job in the locker room.
“Our coaches and our organization, we have done a good job of making sure that our guys understand that another week is another opportunity. That is what this is all about. It is still so early in the season. We are just heading into Week 3. Like I said, we are just starting out. We have a long way to go.”
