Watkins? He's someone who can be moved up if Moore can't go IMO
Saw this on Cleveland.com this morning-It is from Mary Kay and she says that Moore and Coop would probably be able to play this weekend if needed and it seems like Okoronkwo, Delpit and Walker are looking to be back for the playoffs.
The surprising moment when Amari Cooper hurt his heel during historic outing; outlook for Elijah Moore: Browns Insider
Updated: Dec. 31, 2023, 3:05 a.m.|Published: Dec. 30, 2023, 6:43 p.m.
Ceveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper vs. Houston Texans, December 24, 2023
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By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — As if Amari Cooper’s record-setting 265-yard performance in Houston wasn’t amazing enough, it’s all the more remarkable considering when he suffered the heel injury that cost him Thursday night’s 37-20 playoff-clinching victory over the Jets.
While most thought Cooper hurt the heel on his 75-yard catch and run for a TD with 12:04 left in the first quarter of the 36-22 victory over the Texans that made it 14-0, he was already banged up by then.
He actually suffered it on the opening play of the game — the 53-yard post from Joe Flacco on which he got behind the defense to corral the perfectly thrown ball. The tone-setting catch set up Jerome Ford’s direct-snap 4-yard TD run three plays later.
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But the heel injury didn’t stop Cooper from catching the contested deep ball down the left side and motoring another 35 yards to the end zone for the long TD with one defender eating turf, and the other unable to catch him.
By the end of the first half, he had caught 4 of 7 targets for 173 yards and the epic score. He stormed back out in the second half to catch a 7-yard touchdown pass that made it 28-7 with 2:35 left in the third quarter, and kept rolling despite the pain.
Former Browns receiver Reggie Langhorne said in the press box on Thursday night that people don’t realize how hard it is to run with a heel injury like that. It might not sound like much, but it’s excruciating.
Kevin Stefanski pulled Cooper and most of the rest of the starters from the game in the fourth quarter with the Browns up 36-7 — but Cooper was only 10 yards shy of breaking Josh Gordon’s club record of 261 receiving yards in a game, set in 2013. It didn’t matter to Stefanski. He knew his No. 1 receiver was already ailing, and the Browns had another game coming up in four days at home against the Jets, with a playoff berth at stake.
As fate would have it, Davis Mills replaced Case Keenum and threw two TD passes less than two minutes apart — with an onside kick recovery in between — to close to 36-22. Back in went Flacco, Cooper and most of the rest of the starters. By then, Cooper — who wanted 300 yards more than anything — knew of the record, and easily snared the 13-yard pass from Flacco on fourth-and-7 to set the record at 265 on his 11th catch of the day to help close out the game.
Cooper, who had amazingly only missed two games due to injury in his nine-year career, believed he could rally and face the Jets, but the heel wouldn’t cooperate in the short week. He grimaced when he tried to run in pregame warmups, and dejectedly walked up into the tunnel with receivers coach Chad O’Shea.
Fortunately for the Browns, David Njoku (6 catches, 134 yards), Elijah Moore (5 for 61 and a TD) and Ford (2 TDs, including a 50-yarder), came up big for Flacco.
But the fact that Cooper set the record, and became just the second receiver in NFL history, behind Terrell Owens, to record a 200-yard game with three teams, with a painful heel injury is a testament to the player he is.
With the long break between the Jets game and the season finale in Cincinnati next Saturday or Sunday, Cooper might be available for that game. But if the Browns have the No. 5 seed wrapped up and no shot at the AFC North crown — due to the Ravens beating the Dolphins on Sunday — Stefanski might be inclined to rest him and other starters in Cincy.
Elijah Moore’s status
Moore had everyone deeply concerned Thursday night when his body twitched after C.J. Mosley planted him into the grass head-first after a 22-yard catch. But by the time the medical staff helped him up and he walked to the medical tent, he was doing much better and the staff was confident he’d soon be OK.
Nonetheless, given the force of the hit and the involuntary arm and upper body movements, Moore was admitted to the hospital Thursday night and released Friday morning. But the hospital stay was for precautionary reasons and the Browns expect him to make a full recovery soon.
It marked the second documented concussion of Moore’s three-year pro career. He also suffered one in Week 3 of the 2021 season with the Jets, and missed one game the following week.
If Moore is anything like Cooper, he could be back for the Bengals game — in the event the Browns need him. With his excellent game against his former team Thursday night, Moore now has a career-high 59 receptions for 640 yards this season. His two TD catches are fourth-most on the team.
Nick Chubb volunteered his services for Thursday night
Chubb, who helped set the tone Thursday night by donning his Batman mask and smashing the guitar in pregame as the Dawg Pound captain, made it known to the Browns that he wanted to be part of the celebration and help in any way he could. It was only fitting that he got the party started.
The Browns have dedicated their season to Chubb, and his presence on the sideline was a huge boost to the team. He also volunteered to help the crowd get fired up before the Pittsburgh game Nov. 19. He was still on crutches then, but made an appearance on the scoreboard before the game and drew thunderous cheers.
Chubb, who had his ACL repaired on Nov. 14, the second surgery for this injury, is walking without crutches now and only wearing a small brace on the left knee. He’s still on track for a return to the field in 2024.
He was thrilled to be part of the festivities Thursday.
“It’s great,” he said of the Browns clinching as he left the locker room. “I’m excited.”
Deshaun Watson headed back to L.A. but played a role Thursday night
Watson is headed back to Los Angeles to continue rehabbing his surgically repaired throwing shoulder, but played a key role Thursday night, supporting Flacco and others on the sideline, and chest-bumping him after his 50-yard pass play for a TD to Ford.
Watson (5-1 this season) was cleared to be on the sideline because he was more than a month out from surgery. He was there with Chubb, Grant Delpit and other injured Browns. He’s headed back to L.A. to continue rehabbing with his surgeon’s medical team, but will likely rejoin the team for the playoffs.
Ogbo Okoronkwo and other injured defenders still hoping to play
Okoronkwo (torn pec) and other injured Browns defenders are still trying to make it back for the playoffs. Okoronkwo, who will likely need surgery after the season, still has a shot to play. He returned to the team last week after getting a second and maybe third opinion, and will try to hold off until after the playoffs.
Delpit (groin surgery) also hopes to make it back, as does linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (knee scope). The Browns will almost be at full strength on defense if the three return.
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/20...ook-for-elijah-moore-browns-insider.html