Browns and Broncos Beat Up

[HoosierCat]

Looks like the Bengals may face a depleted squad on opening day in Cleveland.

The seasons of Cleveland Browns starting left guard Eric Steinbach (back disc) and running back Brandon Jackson (toe) are in doubt because of their injuries, sources told The Plain Dealer today.

Coach Pat Shurmur said Jackson will be out "an extended period.''

Shurmur also indicated that he's not sure when -- or if -- Steinbach will be back this season.

"At this point, he's going through some treatments that we're hoping will get him back, and there's no real final call yet on whether he'll be back -- or when actually,'' said Shurmur.

Steinbach recently had a second opinion, and doctors are trying to determine whether he needs surgery, the sources said. If so, he'd most likely be placed on injured reserve for the season.

Shurmur said rookie guard Jason Pinkston, who started in place of Steinbach on Thursday night against the Eagles, has made tremendous progress and is holdiing up well at a demanding position. Pinkston will be penciled in to replace Steinbach if he can't come back.

Jackson, the Browns' third-down back, hurt his toe in the second preseason game against the Detroit Lions and is in a cast. Shurmur said he'd need to let the toe settle down a bit before he can get back on the field, which could take significant time.

In addition, linebacker Titus Brown, who left the Eagles game on crutches, has a high ankle sprain and will also be out at least a few weeks. "He may be out for some time,'' said Shurmur. The Browns are already thin at linebacker with Chris Gocong still out with his neck stinger.

[ArmyBengal]

There isn't much that would do this team more than to go into Cleveland and beat a division rival in the season opener.

Depleted or not, I don't care, just win.

[bwillycuse]

Browns don't have much depth. Steinbach is a big hit. Hillis hobbled a bit and montereo hardesty is being brought back slowly after his knee injury.

But, it will still be a tough game. Can't wait.

[volcom69]

Speaking of injured looks like Bo Scafie could be out for the rest of the season, so Coffman better get ready. I thought Coffman looked good last night

[ArmyBengal]

Coffman's issues are the same as they were last season.

Great hands, questionable blocking.

I hope he can figure it out.

[cincy9275]

Speaking of injured looks like Bo Scafie could be out for the rest of the season, so Coffman better get ready. I thought Coffman looked good last night

also the fact that coffamn made a key block on ced's first 3rd and short. plus the guys is a very good pass catching te and a huge redzone target.

i think this is the best group of te's this team has had in a long time. maybe ever! kinda off topic.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Hopefully the Bengals beat the Browns up even more, opening day.

[volcom69]

Coffman's issues are the same as they were last season.

Great hands, questionable blocking.

I hope he can figure it out.

All i know is Coffman had one hell of a game blocking against the panthers so hopefully he is coming around with his blocking

[Spor_tees]

The Scaife injury hurts more than you think. The guy is a beast, how many other TE's in the league could lead their team in receiving? It's a handful that is for sure. Not to mention the guy helped block for Chris Johnson and his monstrous numbers. I hope he isn't gone for the season.

[COB]

i think this is the best group of te's this team has had in a long time.

"What's 'te' stand for?" - Bob Suckowski

[jjakq27]

There isn't much that would do this team more than to go into Cleveland and beat a division rival in the season opener.

Depleted or not, I don't care, just win.

A win to start the season would be so important for this young team.

[HoosierCat]

Injury bug biting week 2 opponent Denver as well:

Linebacker D.J. Williams and defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley are scheduled to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams on injuries suffered Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks.

Williams suffered a dislocated right elbow and will be out three to four weeks. He did not return to the game.

Bunkley suffered what the Broncos described as a knee sprain when he was cut-blocked by Seahawks guard Robert Gallery well behind a pass play late in the first quarter. Bunkley also did not return to the game.

With Ty Warren already recovering from surgery to repair his triceps, a significant injury to Bunkley would greatly impact the Broncos' rotation at defensive tackle.

At best, even if Bunkley simply suffered a serious sprain, he could miss several weeks.

/>http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_18773979

[kingwilly]

Injury bug biting week 2 opponent Denver as well:

Linebacker D.J. Williams and defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley are scheduled to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams on injuries suffered Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks.

Williams suffered a dislocated right elbow and will be out three to four weeks. He did not return to the game.

Bunkley suffered what the Broncos described as a knee sprain when he was cut-blocked by Seahawks guard Robert Gallery well behind a pass play late in the first quarter. Bunkley also did not return to the game.

With Ty Warren already recovering from surgery to repair his triceps, a significant injury to Bunkley would greatly impact the Broncos' rotation at defensive tackle.

At best, even if Bunkley simply suffered a serious sprain, he could miss several weeks.

/>http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_18773979

Somewhere in Cincinnati, Cedric Benson is rubbing his hands together and licking his chops. Feasting on 2nd stringers for a couple of weeks will do this offense good.

[HairOnFire]

Coffman's issues are the same as they were last season.

Great hands, questionable blocking.

I hope he can figure it out.

Based soley upon the Carolina game Chase Coffman is a vastly superior blocker than Gresham. Then again, based soley upon his performance in that game Gresham might be the poorest blocking TE in the entire NFL.

[cincy9275]

i think this is the best group of te's this team has had in a long time.

"What's 'te' stand for?" - Bob Suckowski

towel enhancer, for the tiny towels the bengals are said to supply.

[Scottishbengal]

i think this is the best group of te's this team has had in a long time.

"What's 'te' stand for?" - Bob Suckowski

towel enhancer, for the tiny towels the bengals are said to supply.

Testosterone Enjoyers?

Turkish Employee's?

Testicular Enhancers?

Thalidamides Erections?

[HoosierCat]

Steinbach had back surgery today and is expected to be placed on IR.

[walzav29]

It's 50/50 we could win each of the 1st 4 games. Last year seemed like a stretch to beat NE in week 1. We just have to split the 1st 2 ans win the 2 games at home. 3-1 and we will have a fun competitive season. 1-3 we're doomed. Just don't turn the ball over. They'll win. Tall task.

[Sea Ray]

It's 50/50 we could win each of the 1st 4 games. Last year seemed like a stretch to beat NE in week 1. We just have to split the 1st 2 ans win the 2 games at home. 3-1 and we will have a fun competitive season. 1-3 we're doomed. Just don't turn the ball over. They'll win. Tall task.

I wouldn't put too pressure on winning during the first 4 games. With a new system, QB and WR, I think thefirst 4 games will be the most ugly. The idea is to survive the first half of the season and maybe put a run together in the last 8 games

[HairOnFire]

Steinbach had back surgery today and is expected to be placed on IR.

Who?

[blueridge]

The Scaife injury hurts more than you think. The guy is a beast, how many other TE's in the league could lead their team in receiving? It's a handful that is for sure. Not to mention the guy helped block for Chris Johnson and his monstrous numbers. I hope he isn't gone for the season.

Scaife is on the down side of his career,and he was certainly no beast in the time he was with the Bengals. And blocking has never been something he was noted for. Coffman is one of our guys,on the upward slope of his career, and will be a real asset to the offense if given a chance.

[HoosierCat]

Walker mulls the loss of Steiney:

More than anything, this hurt Cleveland's running game. Steinbach was the team's best pulling offensive lineman. He also was agile enough to get in open space for screens and sweeps. Running back Peyton Hillis also had a lot of success running off the left guard in between tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack.

Finding Steinbach's replacement won't be easy. The Browns claimed Oniel Cousins off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens. Despite struggling mightily in Baltimore, he is a candidate to start in Cleveland. The Browns also have free-agent John Greco and rookie Jason Pinkston on the roster. Either way, Cleveland is taking a significant downgrade with Steinbach out.

The Browns hope they can hide the left guard between Thomas and Mack. Cleveland will be strong at left tackle and center but pretty weak in between. Expect a lot of teams to attack the Browns with blitzes and stunts on that side early to see if Cleveland can handle it.

[COB]

Walker mulls the loss of Steiney:

More than anything, this hurt Cleveland's running game. Steinbach was the team's best pulling offensive lineman. He also was agile enough to get in open space for screens and sweeps. Running back Peyton Hillis also had a lot of success running off the left guard in between tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack.

Finding Steinbach's replacement won't be easy. The Browns claimed Oniel Cousins off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens. Despite struggling mightily in Baltimore, he is a candidate to start in Cleveland. The Browns also have free-agent John Greco and rookie Jason Pinkston on the roster. Either way, Cleveland is taking a significant downgrade with Steinbach out.

The Browns hope they can hide the left guard between Thomas and Mack. Cleveland will be strong at left tackle and center but pretty weak in between. Expect a lot of teams to attack the Browns with blitzes and stunts on that side early to see if Cleveland can handle it.

I heard Joe Thomas on Sirius NFL radio yesterday, and he talked like Pinkston was doing a good job, and I think he said he expected Pinkston to eventually win that spot. The thing that got my attention the most was the way Thomas raved about Colt McCoy. He said he couldn't wait until the Bengals game so everyone could see how good McCoy was playing.

[jonahdsage]

In our last game against cleveland, a squeaker the bengals pulled out 19-17, Benson rushed for 150 yards . . .

Maybe we could have benson rush 35 times for 175 and Dalton finish the night 5-8, 100 yards and a touchdown. Be fine by me

[derekshank]

He said he couldn't wait until the Bengals game so everyone could see how good McCoy was playing.

Colt McCoy has looked good. But they are pretty lacking at WR. And they are built (or at least should be) around the running game, so Steinbach's injury hurts them there... especially since that's the strength of the Bengals defense.

I expect a pretty low scoring game. Plenty of punting and dozens of 3 yard rushes resulting in the rapid rundown of the clock.