BEREA, Ohio — An area of great concern for the Cleveland Browns this season has been the secondary, which has been riddled with injuries since the start of training camp, but things are looking up now that several key players appear to be making their way back.
During Monday’s practice, the Browns reported that linebacker Mack Wilson and cornerbacks Greedy Williams and Kevin Johnson all returned to the field, providing some hope they’ll soon return to active status for game days.
Wilson, who suffered a hyper-extended knee during the team’s Aug. 18 practice session, has been a tough loss for the Browns to deal with.
After losing veteran linebackers Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey as free agents during the offseason, Wilson was set to lead the young corp featuring Sione Takitaki, who is in his second year, and rookie Jacob Phillips, who was drafted in the third round of this year’s draft.
Wilson’s injury initially appeared as though he might require surgery and could be out for the season, but the team got the positive news contradicting those worries.
“When I went down on that date I was thinking ‘Why me?’” Wilson said. "I feel great. As far as me playing that will be up to coach.”
Wilson will be evaluated over the next week before it is decided if he’ll participate in the Browns matchup with Washington, but he said if it was his decision he’d say to play him.
Williams, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury which he said came from a hard hit, and Johnson, who was hospitalized with a lacerated liver after a player landed on him during practice, will look to provide a boost to a secondary spread thin—whenever they are deemed ready to return to play.
As Williams waits to see when he’ll be cleared to return for game day, he’s ready to produce once he gets back out there.
“We’re trying to be the best on Sunday, every Sunday,” Williams said. “I’m just going to go out there and do what I do.”
Johnson shared that sentiment and said he and Williams are ready to bring energy to the secondary in their return.
"We're just licking our chops to get back out there on that field," Johnson said.
The Browns are on the positive end of injury news this week, returning players rather than losing them, in a week that has seen star players go down with serious and even season-ending injuries, including Giants running back Saquan Barkley, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, Broncos wide receiver Cortland Sutton and Panthers running back Christian McCaffery.
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