Cleveland Browns: 3 players who need to step up against The Colts

The Cleveland Browns will need several players to step up if they’re going to do something that hasn’t been done that often and start a season 4-1.

The Cleveland Browns are trying to do something that has only happened a few times before and that starts their season by going 4-1. To do that, however, the Browns will need to get past the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are no cakewalk and will certainly be a test for the Browns.

The Colts are powered by future Hall of Famer Phillip Rivers, who’s the only real offensive threat the Colts have. T.Y. Hilton will be a challenge for the Browns deficient passing defense but without Rivers getting him the ball he hasn’t shown to be much of a threat. The real match up like we saw against Washington will be how the Browns offense does against the Colts league-leading defense. Anchored by a brutal defensive line, The Colts are smothering their opposition with pressure and it’s working.

For the Browns, they’re going into the game without their franchise star in Nick Chubb. That means players like D’Ernest Johnson and Kareem Hunt will need to pick up the slack, and the Browns may call upon Baker Mayfield to make more plays than he usually does.

These are the three Browns players who need to step up against the Colts.

Denzel Ward/Andrew Sendejo

Some will argue against Andrew Sendejo being on here but he really stepped up against the Dallas Cowboys. That first-quarter TD was not his fault. If he can make a few more plays against the Colts as he did with the Cowboys, that may help sway public opinion. A similar mentality for Denzel Ward, who has had an uneven start to the season. He’s clearly better than his current play and if his groin injury continues to heal, he may return to his Pro Bowl level of play.

D’Ernest Johnson

Technically D’Ernest Johnson isn’t replacing Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt is. Johnson is replacing Hunt essentially. He’ll more than likely get most of the standard up-the-gut rushes and will probably get more rushing plays called for him, allowing Hunt to do what he does best and create as both a rusher and receiver. If Johnson can’t take some of the load off of Hunt, Hunt will be forced to be more static in what he can offer.

Jacob Phillips

Like Johnson, Jacob Phillips is a new name to this type of list. Phillips has missed most of the season so far due to injuries. Asking him to come in as a mid-round pick and be a starter especially after missing so much time isn’t fair. This is the NFL, however, and no one said it was fair. The Browns linebackers are worse than expected. Even Mack Wilson hasn’t been impactful in his limited offerings. Phillips will need to really help out and step up and make plays against the Colts. They’re not a big rushing threat so Phillips will need to play well in coverage.