In an important matchup, the Cleveland Browns are welcoming veteran guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver Cedric Tillman to the active roster despite their questionable status leading up to the game. This comes as the team deals with a significant list of injuries, having already ruled out seven players, including tight end David Njoku and cornerback Denzel Ward.
Further complicating matters, long-time starting center Ethan Pocic was placed on injured reserve last week after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon. With Pocic sidelined, Luke Wypler steps into the starting center role, looking to solidify his position with an eye toward the future, including the 2026 season. He and right tackle KT Leveston are the only offensive line starters currently under contract beyond this year.
To bolster their line depth, the Browns signed rookie guard Garrett Dellinger from the practice squad, making him available as a potential backup for both guard and center roles.
On the offensive side, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be leading the team for the fourth time this season. The young signal-caller is coming off a strong performance last week, throwing for 364 yards and three touchdowns. He has formed a promising connection with rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who has emerged as the team’s leading receiver and scored in consecutive weeks. However, with a banged-up offensive line, the Bears are likely to adjust their defensive strategy, utilizing varied blitzes to disrupt Sanders’ rhythm.
The defensive front, spearheaded by star defensive end Myles Garrett, poses a formidable challenge for opposing quarterbacks. Last week, Garrett joined an elite group by achieving 20 sacks in a season and is now just 2.5 sacks shy of breaking the NFL’s single-season record shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. The Browns’ defensive game plan will be crucial as they aim to contain a Bears offense that exploited vulnerabilities in their run defense last week, recording 184 rushing yards against them.
The Bears are expected to rely heavily on their ground game, featuring a tandem of veteran D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai, especially after their impressive 281 rushing yards against Philadelphia in Week 13.
In the secondary, with Denzel Ward out, Sam Webb will take on the starting cornerback role. Additionally, veteran defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, who was elevated from the practice squad, will see action, while rookie Mason Graham is active despite nursing a rib injury. As both teams prepare for the game, all eyes will be on how they adjust to their current rosters and injuries.
