The Browns will head into Sunday’s game against the New York Jets without two important pieces up front, with Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr. officially ruled out.
Both linemen were injured in last week’s Thursday night win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and neither was spotted during the open portion of practice this week. That made the status picture pretty clear before the official game report confirmed it.
Cleveland is also missing Davis, Gabriel, T. Jenkins, Ryan and Wallace for the matchup.
It leaves the Browns thinner than they’d like on a defensive line that already needed impact plays. But there are a few names ready to absorb the extra work.
One of the biggest is Collins, who has been a steady presence for Cleveland since arriving in town. His veteran steadiness has mattered for a young defensive group, and the Browns have leaned on his consistency all season.
Collins posted a career-high 6.5 sacks last year despite missing some time with injury. Offseason injuries raised some questions about his availability this season, but he has looked fully involved through the first four games.
He has nine total tackles, including three solo stops and six assists, along with one sack. Cleveland won’t ask him to do everything, but it will need him to handle a heavier snap load with the line shorthanded.
Huntington is another player who could see his role grow quickly. The Browns have trusted him whenever they’ve needed help, whether that’s been inside at defensive tackle or coming off the edge.
Last season, Huntington played in 13 games as a rotational piece and finished with 15 tackles and half a sack. He’s already up to eleven total tackles and one sack this season, and that production in limited snaps points to more responsibility against the Jets. Depending on how long Graham and Hall Jr. are sidelined, that larger role may not be a one-game thing.
Williams is also part of the mix. Cleveland added him near the start of the regular season, and he’s been active in all four games so far. Listed as a linebacker, he has lined up both off the edge and inside on the defensive line.
Williams has already produced eleven tackles and one sack this season after starting his career with the Dallas Cowboys. However the Browns deploy him, he’s the kind of versatile plug-and-play piece who can help steady the front against a Jets offense that sits in the middle of the pack.
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