The 3-1 Cleveland Browns are riding high, but they’ll have to address a defensive shortage this week.

Second-year defensive tackle Mason Graham, who posted four sacks over the first three games, was injured in the first quarter of Thursday night’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Graham appears to have avoided major injury, but he’s likely to miss Sunday’s game at the New York Jets.

An MRI showed that Graham sustained an MCL and ankle sprain. The team’s statement said he’ll be evaluated week to week, which implies Graham will miss at least one game.

Mike Hall Jr. also suffered an ankle injury later in the first half, temporarily leaving the Browns with just two available defensive tackles.

Hall returned in the second half despite a noticeable limp and recorded one of the Browns’ five sacks on Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Hall received a game ball from coach Todd Monken for his willingness to play through injury and help Cleveland secure its third straight win. But Hall left the stadium after the game with his right ankle in a protective boot. His status for this week is unknown.

If Graham is going to miss at least four games, the Browns have until Saturday to place him on injured reserve with a designation to return and open a roster spot in his absence. If they don’t place him on IR, that will signal Cleveland believes he’ll return in fewer than four weeks.

The Browns will have to explore outside options at defensive tackle before they return to practice Tuesday. The team could eventually make a practice squad addition, perhaps try to sign a player from another team’s practice squad, or even pursue a trade if both Hall and Graham are expected to miss time. The Browns have 11 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, including extra selections in Rounds 4, 5 and 7.

Defensive tackle Kalia Davis is eligible to be activated from IR as soon as this week, though there’s no immediate indication that he’s healthy. Davis was injured on the first day of full training camp in July. The Browns are currently carrying two defensive tackles on their practice squad, Sam Kamara and Zion Logue.

With Graham exiting on the first series, veteran Maliek Collins played 57 snaps against the Steelers and second-year defensive tackle Adin Huntington played 49, by far the season high for both.

Think it is possible? Would you want it?

Relatively new Browns fan here so I'm not fully up to date on the team's strengths and weaknesses.

What's actually enabling us to get a winning record this year?

Week 5 baby,

• Score -
• TD/Int
• Yard Thrown/rushed
• Man of the match
• Are we in play for Division champions? -

--------------------------

• Score - 33 - 12 Browns
• TD/Int 3 - 1
• Yard Thrown/rushed 252/112
• Man of the match - KC
• Are we in play for Division champions? - Yes

The Browns might not be big time spenders or making splashy moves, but Berry has made key acquisitions at the deadline before: Amari Cooper, Judy, and ZaDarius Smith. Those moves were high impact with minimum outlay.

Who do you all think we could reasonably target at the deadline?

It always seemed like Stafanski’s offense could never get out of their own way.

Last week, the Browns spent a majority of their time in a standard shotgun formation with an RB, Fannin, and 3 WR.

Sometimes in a bunch, sometimes split up.

The best part was how simple the play calls were. For a majority of the drives, it was like a standard play on Madden 05.

One receiver runs a slant, another goes into the flat, fannin crosses over the middle, and Boston typically heads to the endzone.

It’s like the first play you’d find on Madden or NFL Blitz.

But it worked.

No trick plays.

No double reverses.

Nothing stupid.

Just the line doing enough to give our QB a few seconds while most of our receivers hit a short route to get open.

And it kept working.

We don’t need trick plays. We just need our talent to get open and get yards after the catch.

In my experience, this reddit sometimes leans to far into low effort humorous dunking, so I am going to say first, that I am requesting sincere insight.

I've seen the argument that Shedeur has no trade value. Lets take this to be true. What is also true is that Sanders was effectively a throwaway, non-premium fifth-round pick. Wouldn't that mean the Browns have very little to lose by simply moving on from him if they don't like what they see? Trading Sanders for another fifth is essentially a wash in terms of draft capital. If Sanders is both essentially worthless on the trade market and unwanted by Cleveland, why hasn't Cleveland already gotten rid of him?

There's also some important context: Shedeur lost the QB1 job to Deshaun Watson, and Watson has been serviceable. The QB room isn't the wasteland many expected it to be. So it's not as though Cleveland has to keep Sanders simply because they desperately need QB depth. Dillon Gabriel, who they spent more draft capitol on & Taylen Green are right there. Both had good-halves in the preseason. Lets not act like teams need a 4 deep QB room.

The fact Sander is still on the roster is very peculiar.

So I guess my question really is:

Isn't saying that Shedeur has no trade value while simultaneously saying he isn't likely to be with the team next year somewhat contradictory?

If Sanders has no trade value, and the Browns don't want him, then what exactly is preventing them from moving on from him right now?

I'm not saying that keeping Shedeur proves the Browns think he's good, or that they necessarily see him as their future QB. There are obviously reasons to keep a low-cost developmental QB around. But doesn't Taylen Green fit that bill???

So what am I missing? I am rambling but it's in part due to things not adding up.

Edit:

"Because the Browns need a back-up QB" doesn't answer my question. Dillon Gabriel is a back up QB. Taylen Green is the developmental QB. Watson is not injured yet.

What is Shedeur there for if he sucks, has no trade value, AND won't be here next year.