Austin Hooper inactive for the Browns vs. Ravens; Harrison Bryant will start in his place
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns starting tight end Austin Hooper is inactive for the Ravens game tonight with his neck injury.
Rookie Harrison Bryant will start in place of Hooper, and the Browns will still play a lot of two tight end sets with Bryant and David Njoku.
“Not ideal, but like you said, we have been here before,’’ said coach Kevin Stefanski this week.
It’s the second time in two weeks that the Browns have had a player or players added to the injury report late in the week. Last week, it was receivers KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) and Taywan Taylor (neck). Both missed their second straight game Monday night, and Taylor was placed on injured reserve and must miss at least two more.
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The loss of Hooper is a blow, because the tight ends promise to figure prominently against the Ravens, who will rely on their two excellent cornerbacks in Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey to shut down Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins.
Hooper, second on the team with 30 receptions but fourth with 286 yards and tied for third-most with two TDs, didn’t suffer a new injury in practice, just a flare-up of an old condition. Stefanski said Saturday it’s not serious, and that he was ‘truly questionable’ for the game.
On Sunday, NFL Network reported that Hooper would likely sit out the game, so it doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
Other inactives for the Browns are receiver Marvin Hall, safety Tedric Thompson and defensive end Joe Jackson.
Receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley, activated off the practice squad today, is active for the game.
Cornerback M.J. Stewart is the game captain.
New Browns face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Browns-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection for adults and youth, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NFL proceeds donated to CDC Foundation.
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