The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Landry: ‘I’m day-by-day now’ in recovery
Receiver recovering from MCL injury
The Browns have the players they need. They just need to get healthy, says receiver Jarvis Landry.
The Browns have the players they need. They just need to get healthy.
That was the idea conveyed by Browns receiver Jarvis Landry, who made a special appearance at the Northeast Ohio Flag Football Association’s event at Mentor’s Jerome T. Osborne Stadium on Oct. 12.
The Browns are coming off a 47-42 loss on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers. Cleveland is 3-2 this season, the other loss being by a 33-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2.
“At the end of the day, we have what we need,” Landry said. “If we can be all together in on it, it can make a difference.
“It’s going to be special when we get all the pieces together.”
That point has been easier said than done for the Browns.
Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (knee) missed the first two games of the season, and then Landry went out with a sprained MCL that kept him out of the past three games.
In the loss to the Chargers on Oct. 10, linemen Jedrick Wills (ankle) and Chris Hubbard (triceps) were both out, and another lineman — Jack Conklin (knee) — left the game with an injury and didn’t return.
Defensively, end Jadaveon Clowney (elbow/knee) and cornerback Greg Newsome (calf) didn’t play because of injuries. Defensive backs Denzel Ward (neck) and Greedy Williams (shoulder) were injured during the game, as were safety M.J. Stewart (hamstring) and linebacker Jeremiah OwusuKorahmoah (throat).
Hubbard, Stewart and fullback Andy Janovich (hamstring) all went to the IR on Oct. 12.
Landry hopes he can return soon to alleviate some of the team's injury woes.
“I'm feeling good,” he said. “I'm day-by-day now. We'll see. I guess I'm officially off the IR now. We'll see.
“My three weeks (on the IR) are up. I don't really know how that works. At the end of the day, the team, myself and my camp will be smart abut coming back or not or when that'll be.”
Landry had six catches for 80 yards before going down with a knee injury, an injury that has tested his patience for sure. He said he wore a brace for a week-and-a-half — reluctantly — and only recently began running.
“I haven't practiced at all,” he said. “I don't when that'll be. I've been rehabbing, getting comfortable and building confidence again and running on the side.”
Landry said he hopes to be back soon, pointing to this three-game home stretch when the Browns play the Cardinals, Broncos (Oct. 21) and Steelers (Oct. 31).
“It's been extra tough,” he said of missing games. “The weekdays fly by, but Sundays are definitely the hardest days. It's always good when you're winning. This past week we didn't do that, so it's a little tougher.”
The Browns let a double-digit second-half lead evaporate into a 47-42 loss against the Chargers, a loss that was not only injury-riddled, but one that also brought up questions about quarterback Baker Mayfield, Beckham and the need for Landry's return.
Landry said the chemistry between Mayfield and Beckham will come.
“Both of these guys work hard. Both are professionals,” he said. “They're going to find a way. That's important to them and important to our team that success comes from both those guys. We need both of those guys on the field, healthy and doing what they do to win games.”
While he said his injury is frustrating because he has been active in meetings and continues to be a program leader, he won't rush it.
“The guys have been doing everything to win games,” he said. “They play hard, they play together, we won on the road against Minnesota … this past week it just fell short.”
But the close loss doesn't mean it's time to panic, he indicated.
“I feel like the first game, we really (could have) won that game,” he said of the loss to the Chiefs. “This past one, you get fourthdown Hail Mary and you throw the ball up? If that's what it is, three points, four points, seven points separates (winning from losing), we're damn close. We know that.”