Banged-up clubs aim to avoid dreaded 0-2 starts
Injuries are piling up fast for the NFL’s New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.
Fully one-quarter of the men on their combined active rosters — 27 of 103 — were listed on this game’s final injury report issued Saturday; seven players are out, 11 others are questionable. The Browns (0-1) and host Jets (0-1) kick off Monday night (TSN via ESPN), each desperate to win to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start.
The Jets are in the worst shape. They’ll be without starting second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, diagnosed last week with mononucleosis.
He’s expected to miss several weeks.
He was New York’s No. 3 overall draft pick a year ago, two selections after Cleveland took its current starting QB Baker Mayfield.
So much for the matchup of second-year superstar-quarterbacks-in-development.
Trevor Siemian, the veteran Denver Broncos discard, will start for the Jets and be backed up by Luke Falk. Gase said the same next-man-up philosophy applies even at quarterback.
“It’s about everybody doing their job. That’s why Trevor is here. We signed Trevor specifically because (in) his 24 starts in his career (he has) a winning record, has a lot of experience, has been on winning ball clubs, has the respect of the locker-room.”
The rest of the Jets offence is a banged-up mess too, frankly.
And of the top six wide receivers, Quincy Enunwa was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, Braxton Berrios (hamstring) is questionable and Demaryius Thomas — acquired in a trade last week from New England — also is questionable with a hamstring issue. New York is Thomas’ fourth team in the last 11 months.
On the other side of the ball, New York’s No. 3 overall draft pick this year, defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, will not play, battling an ankle injury.
A far more significant defensive loss for New York is C.J. Mosley, who has a groin injury.
As for the Browns, Mayfield’s top backup Drew Stanton is questionable with a knee injury.
Four Cleveland players have been ruled out: backup running back Dontrell Hilliard (concussion), backup tackle Kendall Lamm (knee), starting free safety Demarious Randall (hand, concussion) and starting SAM linebacker Adarius Taylor (ankle). Starting guard Joel Bitonio (abdomen) and backup receiver Rashard Higgin (knee) are also questionable. JoKryk@postmedia.com Twitter.com/JohnKryk