Browns: 3 questions Cleveland will answer against the Chiefs

Is everyone on offense healthy and ready to go?

I’m going to list every player that the Browns had in 2020 who was a core starter for the squad, that played in, and finished each game of the regular season and post-season. Ready?

J.C. Tretter.

Yup. The offense had injuries and issues across the board, at every level, and at every position. Even Baker Mayfield was pulled from the first seasonal encounter against the Steelers over concerns about his ribs. Admittedly, Mayfield should’ve probably missed a game or two to heal those ribs, but he soldiered on. Whether that was the right move or not is irrelevant at this point.

That’s the point though, and why Kevin Stefanski and the offensive coaches deserve to be among the most respected coaches in 2021, this was a team that was never truly healthy. The team really only played at full strength, what, three times? They were 2-1 in those three games, so that’s something to be excited about.

The offensive line and the receiving corp were the biggest culprits with their amass of injuries. Nick Chubb missed time, every tight end but Stephen Carlson missed time (the irony of his injury in 2021 isn’t lost on me).

Of all the listed offensive skilled players on Sports Reference, only Mayfield, Carlson, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, and Jamie Gillan played in all 16 games. Add in Tretter and that’s just seven players among all of the starters and backups. Keeping guys healthy is going to be imperative this year.

Getting out of the Chief’s game intact is crucial.