Browns’ injury bug claims kicker
Already down, the Browns have been kicked again by the injury bug.
Kicker Patrick Murray was placed on injured reserve yesterday after hurting his surgically repaired left knee in practice, forcing the Browns to sign Cody
Parkey to handle their kicking duties in today’s game at Miami.
With Murray’s injury, the Browns have lost six starters after just the first two games this season. Quarterbacks Robert Griffin III (broken hand),
Josh McCown (broken collarbone), center Cam Erving (bruised lung), wide receiver Corey Coleman (broken hand) and defensive end Carl Nassib (broken hand) are all out this week and a few of them will be sidelined for several more games.
Murray got hurt during Friday’s walkthrough. He missed last season with Tampa Bay after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament knee ligament. Murray had beaten out incumbent Travis Coons in training camp this summer.
Murray missed a 52-yard field goal and had an extrapoint blocked last week in a loss to Baltimore.
Parkey spent most of last season on the injured list with a groin issue, one season after he set the NFL rookie scoring record for Philadelphia with 150 points and made the Pro Bowl. He was waived earlier this month by the Eagles, who kept Caleb Sturgis as their kicker.
As if this wasn’t enough for the Browns, they could be without two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden today. Haden strained his groin in practice Friday and is listed as questionable for the Dolphins. Haden, who missed five games last season with injuries, had two interceptions last week against the Ravens.
With Griffin and McCown out, rookie quarterback Cody Kessler will make his NFL regular-season debut in Miami. Kessler is the fifth quarterback to start Cleveland’s past five games and the 26th to start for the franchise since 1999.
Matthews out
Pass-rushing linebacker Clay Matthews will miss the Green Bay Packers’ game today against Detroit because of ankle and hamstring injuries.
The Packers downgraded Matthews’ status for the home opener from questionable to out after practice yesterday. Matthews has not practiced all week.
Green Bay also will be without Morgan Burnett after the starting safety was ruled out on with a groin injury.
Two other key defensive players with knee injuries were downgraded from questionable to doubtful: defensive tackle Letroy Guion and defensive end/linebacker Datone Jones.
Top cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) has already been ruled out for a second straight game. Detroit linebacker DeAndre Levy will miss the game because of a quadriceps injury. The Lions downgraded Levy, linebacker Antwione Williams (hamstring) and cornerback Adairius Barnes (ankle) to out. They also waived wide receiver Aaron Dobson, the former Patriot. Julio may play
Julio Jones joined practice for the first time this week, increasing his chances to play in the Falcons’ game at New Orleans tomorrow night.
After being held out on Thursday and Friday with a calf injury from last week’s win at Oakland, Jones was limited in yesterday’s practice. Coach Dan Quinn says the All-Pro receiver is no longer is bothered by the ankle injury that slowed him before the calf injury. Rookie strong safety
Keanu Neal is expected to make his debut against the Saints. Neal, the first-round pick from Florida, had preseason arthroscopic knee surgery and missed the first two games.
As the Saints host Atlanta at the Superdome, New Orleans will mark the 10-year anniversary of the reopening of the hulking, 73,000-seat stadium on Sept. 25, 2006, following its unprecedented 10-month restoration from extensive damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Superdome, one of America’s most famous sporting arenas, became a poignant symbol of destruction, suffering and loss when Katrina hit. . . .
The Jacksonville Jaguars promoted rookie offensive lineman Rashod Hill from the practice squad and released receiver Bryan
Walters. Also, the Jaguars added cornerback Davon
House (illness) to the injury report. House, cornerback
Prince Amukamara (hamstring) and safety Tashaun
Gipson (hamstring) are all questionable.