The Browns’ fast start to 2026 may have gotten a little more breathing room.
Cleveland is out to a 3-1 record and looking like one of the early surprises in the NFL, but the bigger test has always been whether that opening burst can hold up over the long haul. For now, the Browns’ path looks a little friendlier, and one of the tougher spots on the schedule may have just shifted in their favor.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sprained his ankle in the team’s Week 4 win, and his status for the next few weeks is now uncertain. The injury is not expected to be severe or long-term, but Jackson could miss a couple of games.
That matters for Cleveland because the Browns are set to face the Ravens in Week 6. If Jackson does miss at least two games, he would be unavailable for that matchup.
That would be a big break for the Browns, especially with both teams sitting tied at the top of the AFC North after four weeks.
There’s still a long way to go, but Cleveland has the division tiebreaker at the moment thanks to its 1-0 record in AFC North play. Baltimore has not played a division game yet. If the race stays tight, those records could loom large when the standings get sorted out late in the season.
And the Week 6 meeting would be Baltimore’s first AFC North game of the year.
Jackson’s track record against Cleveland makes his possible absence even more significant. In starts against the Browns, he is 10-4 and has won three straight. The only time he missed a game against Cleveland came in December 2022, when the Browns beat a Tyler Huntley-led Ravens team 13-3.
If Jackson sits again in Week 6, Cleveland would likely see Huntley once more. He’s a steady backup, but he’s not Lamar Jackson. That would give the Browns a real edge as they try to add another division win and grab one of the head-to-head meetings with Baltimore.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Suddenly Has A New Problem Ahead Of Jets Game
The Browns defense got a fresh dose of uncertainty this week when the teams Week 5 injury report landed ahead of Sundays matchup with the Jets. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is dealing with an MCL and ankle sprain, while defensive end Derek Barnett is also on the report with an ankle injury, giving Clevelands front another reason to monitor practice closely as the week unfolds.
Safety Grant Delpit was limited because of a shoulder issue, adding to the sense that this unit may not be at full strength when it needs to be. Dillon Gabriel has been cleared to return but is still waiting on a roster spot, while wide receiver Tylan Wallace sat out practice with a knee injury, leaving a few moving parts for Cleveland to sort through before game day. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Be Eyeing A Week 5 Opponent For Defensive Line Help
The Browns have been working through a familiar front-line question all season, and the possibility of adding help at defensive tackle has now turned toward a Week 5 opponent. One name that fits the profile is Jets veteran Harrison Phillips, a sturdy run-stopper whose value would be tied to improving a defense that wants more resistance up front without forcing a long-term commitment.
Phillips also comes with a contract situation that makes him easier to imagine in trade discussions as the calendar moves toward the 2026 deadline, especially if New York slips and decides to move veterans for future assets. For Cleveland, the appeal is straightforward: a short-term fix for the defensive line now, while still leaving room to spend a draft pick on a more permanent answer later. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bears QB Turned A Terrifying Health Scare Into A New Mission
Connor Shaws life changed in an instant during a youth flag football game in September 2025, when the former NFL quarterback and ex-Bears signal-caller suffered sudden cardiac arrest while coaching his son. He was saved by quick CPR from bystanders and medics using an automated external defibrillator, then later had a heart monitoring device implanted as he continued to recover from the scare.
Now Shaw is turning that frightening experience into a broader push for preparedness through HRTHUDL, the nonprofit he founded to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, teach CPR and help get AEDs into communities in South Carolina. For anyone around football, especially youth sports, it is the kind of reminder that the most important play can happen long before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]