Shelton hurt:

The former Bengals assistant expects his former pupil to continue putting two bad games to open the season behind him.

“You guys know my fondness for Andy,” said Jackson, who was the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati in 2015, Dalton’s best season as an NFL quarterback.

“He knows how to play. He knows how to play in that system. I think he’ll get back to being Andy. I just don’t want him to do it this week.”

The controversial Bengals linebacker returns from a three-game suspension this week.

“Their defense has played extremely well,” Jackson said. “Vontaze is the ulti- mate player for the defense. He’s kind of the straw that stirs the drink.”

Burfict has been suspended multiple times for illegal hits, but Jackson had nothing but praise for him.

“I have a fondness for Vontaze because of the way he plays the game. He’s a true professional. He loves football. He plays the way anybody would want any line- backer to play, and obvi- ously they’re getting back a really fine football player and adding that to a really fine defense.”

SUNDAY’S GAME

Bengals at Browns, 1 p.m., WHIO-TV Ch. 7, Ch. 12, 1530, 102.7, 104.7, 1290, News 95.7 WHIO

Jackson praised the job Paul Guenther has done since replacing Mike Zim- mer as defensive coordi- nator in 2014.

“Obviously he took over for one of the best,” Jack- son said. “Paulie has kept it going and put his stamp on it. The defense plays with great tenacity, with unquestioned pass rush.”

The Browns coach noted the Bengals have been getting strong contributions from some young players on that side of the ball.

“They’ve done a great job retooling the talent there.”

The Bengals rookie run- ning back leads the team with 107 yards rushing on 35 carries. He has also caught seven passes for 59 yards.

“When I watch him on tape he’s an explosive young player that’s got fresh legs that’s tough and can cut on a dime,” Jackson said. “He’s a big guy. He’s an explosive football player.”

“I think our guys are working hard. We’re trying to be the best we can be every time we go out and play. We’re just look- ing to improve and get bet- ter and obviously we’re look- ing for an opportunity to win a game.”

The Bengals lead the overall series 48-39, but they are 19-24 in Cleveland.

Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert and wide receiver John Ross have

Injury report:

been ruled out for Sunday, marking the second week in a row neither will play.

Ross has lingering soreness from the knee injury he suffered in the presea- son finale at Indianapolis on Aug. 31, while Eifert is dealing with a back issue that coach Marvin Lewis said is not related to the offseason surgery he had.

Lewis echoed what Eifert said in the spring, that the back will continue to be an issue.

Also ruled out for Sunday is rookie linebacker Jordan Evans (hamstring), while safety Derron Smith (ankle) is doubtful and right guard Trey Hopkins (knee) is ques- tionable. Despite the desig- nation, it’s unlikely Hopkins will play after being listed as limited all week, including during Friday’s light walk- through.

For the Browns, starting linebacker Jamie Collins, their best defensive player, has been ruled out with a concussion.

President Donald BEREA — Trump’s comments last Friday night about NFL players who knelt during the national anthem hit Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey personally.

“When you say SOB, come on man,” Kirksey said on Thursday. “I feel like you’re talking about my mother, personally, and that’s just not right.”

Kirksey’s mother, Patrice, is a pastor. Her husband, Elmer, was a pastor, too. He passed away from a heart attack when Kirksey was 17 years old.

“I’m not going to stoop down to (Trump’s) level,” Kirksey said. “It’s a lot I can say about Trump but I’m going to leave my comments to myself and, at the end of the day, just keep moving from it. I know who I am, I know my family, what they represent, how my mother raised me, how my father raised me, so those comments like that, I have to watch myself at getting angry about it because that’s what he wants.”

Kirksey has been one of the players out front for the Browns. He was among a group of players who met this week with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the pregame protests. Corner- back Jason McCourty, tight end Randall Telfer and owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam attended the meeting as well.

Browns players Thursday were more focused on their efforts beyond the protest than the protest itself. Kirksey and McCourty pointed to the work in the community that players do on a regular basis.

“Monday through Satur- day NFL players are out in the community,” McCourty said. “They’re doing different things.”

“I’m always trying to help someone, and that goes to the players on this Browns team,” Kirksey said. “I can name a bunch of people that are always giving up their time to go help someone or just be around the community. That’s what we’re all about and that’s what the NFL’s all about. We play on Sundays, but we do our work throughout the week.”

Neither McCourty nor Kirksey could point to an endpoint of the protests. The big thing for Kirksey is that, no matter what, he’s not going to change what he’s doing.

“At the end of the day, for me, I’m going to do my job to the best of my ability, to be a good teammate, to be a good friend, to be a good server for the community,” Kirksey said, “That’s what I’m all about, that’s what a lot of players on this team are about.”

The Browns, at least according to Kirksey and McCourty, have not decided what they will do pregame Sunday prior to playing the Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium.As for Kirksey’s response to Trump’s comments and tweets:

“We’re trying to effect change,” Kirksey said. “We’re trying to help the world. What is Trump doing? Who knows? He’s just on Twitter. He’s on social media. The president of the United States shouldn’t be on social media more than others. He shouldn’t be voicing his opinions on social media. Come on, man, that’s pretty childish.”

Just when rookie defensive end Myles Garrett (high ankle sprain) looks to get back in the lineup Sunday, defensive tackle Danny Shelton might bow out with a calf injury suffered Wednesday in practice.

“But I feel a lot better,” he said Thursday. “I’m pretty confident I’ll be good.”