Browns: With no receivers available to play, it’s time for the tight ends to step up

The Cleveland Browns were looking at rolling the Jets on Sunday, so the universe decided to even the odds by making sure all the receivers were ruled out.

The Cleveland Browns can not catch a break, as the team found out late-Saturday evening that they’ll be without all four of their main receivers for the game against the Jets on Sunday. It’s being reported that receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, KhaDarel Hodge, and linebacker Jacob Phillips have all been ruled out of the game on Sunday due to Covid-tracing measures. They join B.J. Goodson, who was ruled out earlier Saturday.

Receivers Marvin Hall, who was already on the 52-man-roster, Ja’Marcus Bradley, and Derrick Willies will now be the team’s wideouts for the game, while linebacker Montrel Meander will be on the squad as well to fill Phillips spot. No word on if Mack Wilson will dress this week, after being a healthy scratch last week.

While Mayfield has done well all year regardless of who he is throwing to, this is not good for him. The new wideouts are guys who may not have any real idea what they’re doing or be any good at all. The biggest concern is what chemistry and timing will be like with these new players, who have played and practiced with quarterback Kyle Lauletta. So who knows if they’re going to be up for Mayfield’s play style. Mayfield extends plays with his legs by rolling out, allowing for receivers to freelance at the end of their routes. Will these new players be aware of that?

That’s why this game needs to feature more tight end play and targeting than ever before this season. David Njoku and Harrison Bryant need to be used off the line in the slots far more than they’ve been before. You’re going to see all three men, Austin Hooper included, as well as Andy Janovich get a lot more reps this week compared to their seasonal average.

You can’t move away from the receivers completely but the Browns are three-deep at tight end with starting-caliber guys. This is the game to use them properly and see what you can do with them spread around the field. Luckily, Bryant and Njoku are crazy athletic, so you might as well see how they match up on some corners.

This game just got a lot more interesting, but at least some good news for the Browns, as Jedrick Wills will be back for the game. His loss wouldn’t have been too impactful if Chris  Hubbard was healthy, but he’s currently on the injured-reserved list, so he couldn’t play even if he was healthy.

This Jets game just got a whole heck of a lot more interesting.