One of the problems for the Browns when it comes to playing against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens–and players who have been Cleveland for any significant time have dealt with this plenty of times–is that no matter how well the defense can have the initial stages of a play covered and sniffed out, Jackson’s mobility always leaves open the possibility of the play simply changing shape altogether. Fifth-year veteran safety Grant Delpit knows this well.
Delpit has been part of nine games against the Ravens, with a 4-5 record, including the 41-17 Week 2 matchup that started as a tight affair but turned into a big-play shellacking in the fourth quarter. Delpit has seen it time and again: The Browns, or any defense, can only hold back Jackson for so long.
Jackson suffered a knee injury last Sunday against the Vikings, and missed practice on Wednesday. But he said he would be ready to go in Week 11 in Cleveland.
In the past, one of the saving graces of trying to defend the Ravens was, generally, that they did not put any great receivers on the field alongside Jackson. But what’s different about this offense–which has averaged 28.3 points as the Ravens have won three straight games with Jackson returning from an earlier hamstring injury–is the Browns now also have to worry about Zay Flowers.
Flowers has 50 catches in nine game, with 625 yards and a touchdown. He had seven catches for 75 yards in the Week 2 meeting with the Browns. Having to guard him while Jackson extends plays, Delpit said, is a bit much.
“It’s annoying, man,” he said. “It’s very annoying to be running everywhere across the field, and you’re expected to plaster him until it’s incomplete. They’re gonna make a play or two, Lamar is gonna do some crazy stuff that we all seen. We just gotta do our best to stay close.”
The Browns do have some advantage coming into the game, having just faced an extremely mobile quarterback in Week 10, when they mostly shut down Justin Fields of the Jets. Jackson is better, though, and so are the Ravens in general.
“Obviously, we are familiar with Lamar,” Delpit said. “We’re familiar with the Ravens’ offense, and they’re familiar with us, so we’re playing with zone reads and some of the same techniques as last week. I think this game is just about perspective.
“Despite how things is going, despite how things are going outside the defense, just perspective, people know the Browns are gonna come with a great defense. That’s just upholding that standard and earning that respect every play.”
The New York Jets faced off against the New England Patriots on Thursday night without their top receiver in Garrett Wilson.
Wilson was officially placed on the Injured Reserve on Thursday afternoon, which means he will miss at least the next three games for the team after the Patriots game. A stint on the IR means you miss a minimum of four games and the first for Wilson was against the Patriots.
After losing against New England, the Jets sit at 2-8 on the season. New York’s next three games are against the Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and the Miami Dolphins. There’s an argument that all three are winnable. The Ravens are 4-5 and Lamar Jackson’s health is in question. Miami is 3-7 and is not even close to full strength at this point. The Falcons are 3-6 and have been struggling recently. All in all, all three are winnable.
But, will Wilson return even though the playoffs are a pipe dream at this point? Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was asked on Friday if he thinks Wilson will play again this season.
“I do,” Glenn said. “I do. But, again, a lot of that has to do with the (doctors). Him being on this short-term IR, obviously he gets to come back after four games. So, hopefully, he will be back with us.”
At a time in which there is a lot of bad news around the franchise, this is the type of update that can at least be considered good news. Wilson is a certified star in the wide receiver room and had a great start to the season before a knee injury negatively impacted his season.
Wilson now has missed three games and got re-injured in his return against the Cleveland Browns without making a catch. Despite this, he’s leading the team with 59 targets, 36 catches, 395 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns.
No matter what happens over the next three weeks, at least there is something to look forward to with the expected return of Wilson.