Report: Browns to be Without Joshua Cribbs Against Jaguars?

by Chris Pokorny on Nov 17, 2010 9:49 PM EST in Who Powered Through

According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, the Cleveland Browns "don't expect to have" Joshua Cribbs available to play this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

I'm having a hard time fully accepting that Cribbs will miss this week's game against Jacksonville, but maybe that's just me trying to be optimistic. Cribbs did not practice Wednesday morning, but Eric Mangini again stated that he hoped to have Cribbs practicing by the end of the week. If Cribbs can't play this Sunday, the team would likely turn to the newly signed Clifton Smith.

Smith played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008 and 2009, serving as the team's primary kick and punt returner. He actually did a great job, making the Pro Bowl one year for the NFC. He averages 27.8 yards per kick return, and 11.8 yards per punt return. Not being without Cribbs isn't necessarily a detriment. When Joe Haden returned kicks last week, teams kicked to him conventionally (as opposed to kicking away from Cribbs) and Haden seemed to have a lot of room to run. Since Smith doubles as punt returner, Chansi Stuckey shouldn't have to worry about that burden.

The Browns also signed CB Eric King in case veteran Sheldon Brown can't play, but right now Brown seems optimistic that he won't miss the game. OG Billy Yates was placed on the IR, and QB Brett Ratliff was waived, to make room for the two roster additions.

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So Smith will be WR depth and the primary return man?

Moisture is the essence of wetness.

by troy145 on Nov 17, 2010 9:51 PM EST reply actions

Well, he’s technically listed as a running back. We’d probably put Carlton Mitchell or Demtrius Williams in his WR spot.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Nov 17, 2010 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

I’d be interested in seeing some Demitrius Williams… It would be nice if he turned out to be somewhat of an Evan Moore, if you know what I mean.

And this Smith character… You say he’s a RB. What do you suppose the chances we could see him take snaps at the RB position? If he could gain more than 2 yards in 6 carries or whatever Bell and Thomas have been able to come up with, I’d be down with that.

by shep615 on Nov 18, 2010 12:02 AM EST up reply actions

Speaking of Even Moore, We need to see more of this ,Even Moore, WAY MORE.

Browns, Indians, and Cavs,

Cleveland Fans, Support all of your teams.

by dawginhouston on Nov 18, 2010 1:23 AM EST up reply actions

I want to see Carlton Mitchell catch a ball, his size and speed, I just don’t see how he CAN BE WORSE THAN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE! as far as production.

great week to see what he can do out there, he was inactive last week, but played special teams for a few weeks before that.

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

by allsides on Nov 18, 2010 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

I would also like to see Mitchell, but he could certainly be worse. Maybe he doesn’t run crisp routes, maybe he doesn’t block downfield very well, and he has some history of dropping balls. For as much as we all like to blast our current WR corps, it could always be worse.

by Dawg Nuts on Nov 18, 2010 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

based purely on the pre-season, he drops a lot of balls.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Nov 18, 2010 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

yes it could always be worse, as browns fans know all too well…

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

by allsides on Nov 18, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

A fellow dawg in tejas. Hola!!!!

No talking. Talking doesn't play football, talking isn't going to make you practice harder or play harder.

by J. W. on Nov 18, 2010 9:40 AM EST up reply actions

I’m not sure I’m really concerned about Josh Cribbs not being able to play. Haden looked much better last week at returns than Cribbs has looked all year.

by inogenius on Nov 17, 2010 11:51 PM EST reply actions

No doubt it helps that they kicked to Haden, as Chris mentioned above. Glad Stuckey won’t be pressed into action, though.

The Browns have three wins, and absolutely nobody wants to play them. --- D. Banks, 11/17/2010

by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Nov 18, 2010 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

4 dislocated toes??? ouch.

the least we could’ve done is punch it in for him. the 3 shotguns from the five; not using hillis/vickers 3x at 2nd/3… this is my ONLY bitch with the coaching from last week.

on cribbs, i’m bummed he’s injured because… i would really like to see him in the ‘give hillis a breather’ role. cribbs would be about a 1000x better at RB than bell/clayton. hate to keep moving him around, but dammit daboll hasn’t figured him out at WR. he’s a flanker, a wes welker. but seems like he still gets split wide.

get well soon JC.

by jimkanicki on Nov 18, 2010 2:50 AM EST reply actions

AND THE NEXT TIME WE GOT DOWN THERE WE WERE IN A SHOTGUN, TOO.

I actually love our playcalling, but it seems around the redzone we have been suspect at best….but, it does get tough for most teams down there, too. There has to be something better than what we are doing, though….12 TDs and 12 field goals in the red zone, that IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH….that’s whey we are 3-6.

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

by allsides on Nov 18, 2010 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

If you’ve ever dislocated a toe, you would know he’s not playing this week. It is very unpleasant and very painful just to walk for a good week let alone play football. I’d say that next week is much more realistic.

by jerehall on Nov 18, 2010 9:05 AM EST reply actions

I’ve never dislocated a toe, but I imagined it’d be difficult to play right away. My only hope for optimism was when Mangini suddenly said that he hoped Cribbs could practice later in the week.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on Nov 18, 2010 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

Its Josh Cribbs. He is Superman. I think he will be back, but limited.

by SBP on Nov 18, 2010 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

we could have gained a game in the division

That is what hurts the most, pull off one of those plays and win the game, and we are only 2 games back from balt. and pitt…….with beating NO, NE, and NY, I would be giving ourselves a real good chance, too, at playoffs….am I being too optimistic?

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

by allsides on Nov 18, 2010 9:27 AM EST reply actions

No not too optomistic, just being a fan. I would love to see our Browns in the playoffs and go farther, just don’t see it this year. Big Daddy Mike and gang will hopefully find the rest of the puzzle pieces that we need for this team to dominate. Building upon this year, 2011 should be an exciting season.

No talking. Talking doesn't play football, talking isn't going to make you practice harder or play harder.

by J. W. on Nov 18, 2010 9:45 AM EST up reply actions

If they don´t have a way of gluing those toes back on Star Wars Medical style, we won´t be seeing much more of Josh Cribbs this year. Right, Massaquoi to the slot consistently, and give Carlton Mitchell a run for a few games at wide out. Evan Moore as the most gifted pass catching tight end on our roster, also sounds like a good idea.
Regarding the kick off return duties, sounds like you found a specialist in Clifton Smith. I would still tend towards battling it out in practice amongst our fastest guys. Maybe this wasn´t considered while we had Cribbs.

by mooncamping on Nov 18, 2010 10:32 AM EST reply actions

If they don´t have a way of gluing those toes back on Star Wars Medical style, we won´t be seeing much more of Josh Cribbs this year.

As always, a unique opinion….

The Browns have three wins, and absolutely nobody wants to play them. --- D. Banks, 11/17/2010

by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Nov 18, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

These are not the droids you are looking for. Luke, fetch me my toe glue.

"If Brown is the answer, then you’re asking the wrong question." - Ryan

by woodsmeister on Nov 18, 2010 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

Is this it next to the toe jam, Obi Wan?

by JustBob on Nov 18, 2010 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

Ha, ha. The universal language, humor!

by mooncamping on Nov 19, 2010 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

What’s the deal with this return specialist? How do you go from the Pro-Bowl to waiver wire in such a hurry? Is he purely one dimensional? Off the field issues (doubtful with our F.O.)? Anybody know anything about this guy?

What does that MEAN - TO PLAY US OUT?!!?!?

by DaveDawg09 on Nov 18, 2010 7:20 PM EST reply actions