On Sunday September 15th ,2024, at 1pm eastern time, the Cleveland Browns travel to Jacksonville Florida to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second game of the 2024 season. Injuries are a storyline going into this game for the Cleveland Browns. And a star player did not practice early in the week.

The Cleveland Browns placed 5 players on the injured reserve list last Wednesday. S Juan Thornhill calf, LB Mohamoud Diabate hip, LB Tony Fields II ankle, and DT Maurice Hearst II ankle were placed on the injured reserve list and will miss at least 4 weeks.  TE David Njoku is week to week with an ankle injury. He was not placed on the injured reserve list. Njoku will not play Sunday in Jacksonville. Not on an injury report but held out from a practice was 2023 Defensive Player of the Year defensive end Myles Garrett. It was reported that he had a foot issue but is expected to play. Also, his counterpart defensive end Za ’Darius Smith missed practice as well. He was not on an injury report either. It was reported that he had a back issue.

Both players experienced soreness in those areas, and they returned to practice on Friday. The rest from practice was merely precautionary. Both Garrett and Smith are expected to play Sunday afternoon. Some good news on the injury front for the Browns. Offensive Tackles Jack Conklin and Jed Wills both practiced and got in work at left tackle this week. Last Sunday James Hudson III made his first start at left tackle against the Dallas Cowboys. If Conklin and Wills can’t play in Jacksonville, Hudson will get the start.

Injuries are a part of football, and the Cleveland Browns were ravaged by them in 2023. And in the early part of the 2024 season the team is dealing with injuries again. Let’s see how the team handles the adversity and potential bounce back from a loss. Otherwise, this team can find themselves in an early hole this season.