Through three weeks of the 2026 NFL regular season, the Browns are in a better spot than they were a year ago - but the week leading into Thursday night has brought its own set of headaches.
Cleveland hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Oct. 1, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. EST at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns are coming off a 21-18 win over the Carolina Panthers in their home opener, and the mood around the building has clearly been upbeat.
“We're playing for first place," Monken said after the win on Sunday. "Holy s***.
Is that cool or what? I mean, so our guys are ready to rock and roll and we'll be good to go.
But appreciate the fans and we're not perfect. We're not coaching or playing.
We're going to fight like hell to get there, I promise.”
That optimism, though, has been tempered by an injury report that hit Tuesday night and put several key names in question for a short-week divisional matchup.
On the offensive line, Tytus Howard was limited with a knee injury, Elgton Jenkins did not practice because of a concussion, and Teven Jenkins was limited by a back injury. The injury list also included wide receiver Tylan Wallace, who did not practice because of a knee injury.
Monken said Elgton Jenkins is expected to miss Thursday night’s game, and Luke Wypler would step in as the starter if needed. Rookie Parker Brailsford would be next up behind him.
Wallace’s situation is less clear. Monken said he is still waiting for more information on the receiver, whose knee injury left him on crutches. If Wallace can’t go, practice squad receivers Jimmy Horn Jr. or Bub Means could be elevated.
The defensive side brought some encouraging signs, even if the official designations still read limited. Cornerback Tyson Campbell and safety Grant Delpit were limited on Monday and Tuesday.
Campbell is working back from knee and hip injuries suffered in the Week 2 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and sat out Sunday’s game against Carolina. Delpit has been dealing with shoulder discomfort.
According to The Athletic’s Zac Jackson, both Campbell and Delpit took part in early individual drills open to the media on Tuesday, a sign that points toward both players being available Thursday.
The Browns will release a final game status report on Wednesday, Sept. 30, with any roster moves to follow if necessary.
In Other News...
Deshaun Watson Just Raised The Stakes For Clevelands Quarterback Plan
Deshaun Watson is still thinking long term, even as the Browns continue to sort through their quarterback situation. Speaking about his career outlook, Watson said he wants to play in the NFL as long as possible, pointing to Aaron Rodgers as the kind of veteran who has shown how far a quarterback can stretch his runway. He also said his motivation is to keep going until his body no longer allows it.
For Cleveland, that mindset matters because it keeps the conversation about its quarterback future from feeling like a short-term issue. Rodgers has already said this season will be his last, but Watson is taking the opposite view, and that kind of durability ambition can shape how a team plans around its quarterback room. The Browns may still be deciding how best to navigate the position, but Watson is making clear he sees himself as part of the leagues long game. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jeudy Reaches A Big Browns Crossroads On Thursday Night
Jerry Jeudys start to the 2026 season has been a quiet one in Cleveland, and the usage tells the story as much as the box scores do. Through three games, he has seen just five targets and turned them into two catches for four yards, a surprising level of involvement for a receiver the Browns still had every reason to imagine as a meaningful part of the passing game.
Instead, the early work has gone more heavily to rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, who have been involved far more often and have quickly carved out a bigger share of the offense. That leaves Jeudy at an important crossroads, trying to find a way back into a larger role before the gap gets wider, while the Browns have to decide whether his path forward is inside their offense or somewhere else entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Soon Face A QB Decision Fans Didn't Expect
The Browns have spent much of the season sorting through a crowded quarterback room, and the picture could get even tighter soon. Dillon Gabriel is on short-term injured reserve but could be back before long, giving Cleveland another healthy arm to consider alongside the rest of a four-quarterback roster.
That kind of depth can be useful in October, but it also creates pressure on the front office to make a call before the roster becomes unwieldy. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler recently pegged Cleveland as one of three teams that could move a backup quarterback for draft capital, and Gabriel looks like the name that fits the conversation best because of the depth chart and the Browns' roster constraints. [Read more 🡒]