BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns and their defense will have their hands full on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field, against the 4-1 Ravens, no matter who plays quarterback.
The Ravens are currently the No. 5 offense in the NFL in yards per game and points per game. The Ravens are averaging 394.2 yards a game and are scoring 29.2 points a game.
Led by Derrick Henry, the Ravens are averaging 164.4 yards a game (No. 3 in the NFL) and No. 14 in passing at 229.8 yards a game. Henry has 476 yards with seven touchdowns. Zay Flowers is the Ravens leading receiver with 31 receptions.
The Browns are No. 20 in the NFL on defense, giving up 33.4 yards a game. The Browns are tied for 14th in the NFL in giving up 22.4 points a game.
The Browns rushing defense is allowing 117.4 yards a game (No.18) and 216.6 yards a game in passing (No. 13).
What compounds the Browns problems is the injury factor. Three starters missed practice on Wednesday in defensive tackle Mason Graham (knee, ankle), Maliek Collins (knee) and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (ankle). Collins returned on Thursday, but Graham and Schwesinger remained out.
Defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg is confident the defense, as a whole, will step up and play well.
"We have the greatest group of guys who are full of spirit,” he said. “I mean, you see the way we practice today and yesterday. There’s tons of spirit. Our competitive nature is awesome. And we have a bunch of guys who play to our style.
“They play for each other,” he said. “They play hard as (heck). We’re constantly trying to find different ways to create edges, and that’s the mind part. And then in the end, it’s our fist. And you see that every day from our group of guys, no matter who’s out there. And that’s the coolest part about being out there with them and being a part of it.”
If Schwesinger cannot play, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold could get the call. He filled in during training camp for Schwesinger while he was out. Rutenberg was asked what he would tell him if he steps in.
“Just do exactly what he did during training camp,” Rutenberg said. “He was awesome in the time that Carson was out. I’ll let Monk address who’s up and who’s down in terms of it, but any guy who plays, just do what you’ve been doing your whole life. And Easton had the unique experience of being in training camp and did an amazing job of it, and that’s exactly what I would tell him.”
Rutenberg says the rush defense is still a work in progress and knows the Browns will have their hands full with the Ravens offense.
“Every part of our defense, pass game, run game, third down, red zone, two minute, first down, second and one to six,” he said. “It’s constantly looking at, are we tweaking? Are we building on it? Is something working? Is something not working? The entire defense it’s constantly, I’m going to use the same term, but it’s real, under construction.
“Now, our principles, the heart, the mind, the fist, the ball is oxygen, that is who we are, that is our non-negotiables, and that’s our play style,” he said. “But schematically, technically and fundamentally and situationally, it’s constant searching for the next inch. It’s constant searching for the next inch, whether it’s run game, pass game, we’re always doing that. And our players do a great job with that.”
In addition, defensive tackle Mike Hall (ankle) missed last week’s game and did not practice Wednesday. Defensive end Derek Barnett (ankle) also missed Wednesday and Thursday.
Jared Verse said it’s part of the game and guys have to step up.
“It’s football, no matter what happens, you always got to be ready for the next person up, whether you're third string, whether you're on scout, whether you're just at home waiting to get a call from somebody to come in and play.
“You have to have your mindset ready,”Sam (Kamara) proved on Sunday what his mindset's about. He went out there and he dominated. He went crazy, especially in front of his own crowd, and Adin (Huntington) has just been working every week. He's just getting better and better, so that's just who they are.”
Kamara had a sack and Huntington recovered a fumble.
Two-time Most Valuable Player and quarterback Lamar Jackson missed last week’s win over the Falcons with an ankle injury. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley would start in Jackson’s place if Jackson cannot play.
Jackson did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday..
“It’s definitely day-to-day,” coach Jesse Minter said on Wednesday. “A lot of times those things, right when they happen, you’re not sure. As you gather info, you look at stuff, but again, to Lamar’s credit, he’s working his butt off, he’s doing everything he can to be out here. When he’s able to be, he will.”
Verse was asked about how tough it is to face Jackson as a defensive lineman.
“The standard of like what running quarterbacks are nowadays, how fast they are, have legs they have, how agile they are,” he said. “With him you have to rush a little bit differently, your mindset is to keep him in the pocket, but you don't want to rush scared either because like I said before, you can sit back there and (he’ll) dot you up all day, so you want to get after him, but he's a very, very dangerous quarterback.”
Todd Monken was asked how do the Browns prepare for one quarterback over the other.
"You prepare for the Ravens,” Monken said. “They’ve got a really good coaching staff, and I’ve been there before where we played Snoop (Huntley), and Snoop’s a really good football player and won a bunch of games as the starter.”
Prior to joining the Browns, Monken was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator the previous three seasons.
Cornerback Denzel Ward said the defense is prepping for both quarterbacks.
“Definitely, still just got to keep an eye on, watch some of the tape on what he likes to do,” Ward said of Jackson. “He’s their guy, but still checking tape out on both of those guys. They’re both really good quarterbacks and just preparing for both.”
In his career, Jackson is 10-5 against the Browns. He has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 2,737 yards, including 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for a QB rating of 96.6. He has been sacked 35 times.
Jackson is a dual threat quarterback, as well, as he’s rushed 134 times for 770 yards and six touchdowns against the Browns.
In 2026, Jackson has thrown for 967 yards, completing 70.8 percent of his passes, with six touchdowns and one interception. He has been sacked seven times and has a QB rating of 119.6.
Huntley played well in Jackson’s absence, leading the Ravens to a comeback win over the Falcons, including a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie in the last minute of regulation.
He was 24-for-32 (75 pct.) for 201 yards, two touchdowns, three sacks and a 111.6 rating. He rushed six times for 20 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Huntley is completing 78 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions and a QB rating of 109.8. He has also rushed 10 times for 36 yards, including a touchdown.
Huntley spent some time with the Browns under Kevin Stefanski, but did not play in a regular season game.
If the Ravens decide to give Jackson more time to rest, Monken knows that Huntley is more than capable of leading the Ravens offense.
“Very confident player,” he said. “He has a belief in himself to make plays, and he’s really a gamer. I know it sounds really overused, but the moment never gets too big for him.
“He loves to play football, and he gets in the game and he’s able to make plays with his arms and his legs, and he gets rid of the ball and knows where to get the ball out when under duress,” he said. “And he works awfully hard. He’s very diligent in preparing as the backup. So when his time is called, he’s able to play at a high level.”
As it does so many times in the NFL, it might come down to turnovers. The Ravens are plus-3 (3 turnovers, 6 takeaways), tied for 6th in the NFL, while the Browns are at minus-one (7 turnovers, 6 takeaways), No. 19 in the NFL.
Extra Points
Sampson, Howard, Collins, Return to Practice: RB Dylan Sampson (IR, Knee) was practicing for the first time in over a month after being on injured reserve. Meanwhile, RB Quinshon Judkins (ankle0 was on the field but did not practice.
DT Maliek Collins (foot) returned to practice after missing Wednesday. DE Derek Barnett (ankle), DT Mason Graham (knee, ankle), DT Mike Hall (ankle) did not practice. DT Kalia Davis (quad) also was out.
OT Tytus Howard (knee) returned to practice on Thursday, but G Teven Jenkins (back) remained out.
TE Carsen Ryan (calf) returned to practice after missing last week’s game.