The Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans head into their Week 14 matchup with playoff hopes still flickering - but they’ll have to navigate a minefield of injuries to keep those hopes alive. Between the two teams, 14 players carried injury designations into Sunday, and now we have clarity on who’s suiting up and who’s watching from the sidelines.
**Let’s start with Cleveland. ** The Browns elevated rookie defensive end KJ Henry ahead of the game, adding some depth to a defensive front that’s been both banged up and relied upon heavily this season.
The big question was whether defensive tackle Mason Graham, who was listed as questionable with a rib injury, would be able to go - and the answer is yes. He’s active, giving the Browns a key piece in the trenches as they try to contain Derrick Henry and the Titans’ run game.
Here’s the full list of Browns inactives:
- RB Raheim Sanders
- OL Wyatt Teller
- OL Jack Conklin
- WR Jamari Thrash
- TE Brenden Bates
- DT Adin Huntington
The takeaway? Every player who entered the day listed as questionable - Graham, DT Mike Hall, LB Devin Bush, DE Isaiah McGuire, and RB Dylan Sampson - is active.
That’s a big win for a Cleveland team that’s been dealing with attrition across the board. Getting Hall and McGuire back in the rotation up front should help keep the pass rush fresh, while Bush adds some needed experience to the linebacker corps.
Offensively, Sampson gives them another option in the backfield with Sanders sidelined.
Now to the Titans. Tennessee’s inactive list is a bit shorter, but still features some notable names:
- CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
- S Jerrick Reed II
- OL Drew Moss
- OL Lloyd Cushenberry III
- DT Shy Tuttle
Tuttle was one of two Titans listed as questionable coming into the game, but he wasn’t able to clear the final hurdle. That’s a blow to the Titans’ interior defensive line, especially against a Browns team that still wants to establish the run despite their own injuries up front. On the other hand, safety Kendell Brooks, who was in concussion protocol earlier in the week, has been cleared and is active - a much-needed boost for a secondary that’s been tested all year.
**What does this all mean heading into kickoff? ** For the Browns, having their full stable of questionable defenders active gives them a better shot at controlling the line of scrimmage - a must against the physical style Tennessee brings.
Offensively, the loss of both Teller and Conklin on the offensive line is significant. That’s two starting-caliber linemen unavailable, which could impact both pass protection and the run game.
As for the Titans, missing Tuttle hurts, but having Brooks back helps balance things out on the back end. Tennessee will need to find a way to generate pressure and stop the run without one of their key interior linemen.
With both teams fighting through injuries and looking to stay in the postseason picture, expect a gritty, physical battle - one where depth and adaptability could end up being the difference.