Browns D-Line Gets Troubling Update Ahead of Week 5

The Cleveland Browns have largely avoided major injury absences through the first four weeks of the regular season, but that is due to change in Week 5. 

DTs Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr. have officially been ruled out for Sunday's matchup with the New York Jets, via the team's practice report released on Friday. The news comes after both players missed all three days of practice during the week. 

Graham is dealing with a knee injury that he sustained during the Browns' Thursday night win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2025, fifth overall pick twisted his knee during a play around the 7:40 mark of the first quarter and wound up limping off the field with trainers all the way to the locker room. After the game, he was seen on crutches and in a knee brace as he left the stadium. 

It was later reported to be an MCL sprain and with some extra days off to recover, Graham was around the facility this week without crutches and with a much more inconspicuous brace. Ultimately, he couldn't make it back to the practice field. 

Similarly, Hall Jr. suffered an ankle injury against the Steelers and was actually carted to the locker room in the first half. He miraculously returned late in the third quarter to help the Browns secure the win over their arch-rival. 

Despite the fact that he returned that night and expressed confidence afterward that he'd be fine for Week 5, he also failed to make an appearance at practice this week and won't play. 

Joining Graham and Hall as out for Sunday are WR Tylan Wallace, who is dealing with a knee injury, guard Teven Jenkins, who is still nursing a back injury. Both had DNP (did not practice) designations for all three days of practice.

Rookie TE Carsen Ryan, who popped up on the practice report late in the week due to a calf injury, has been ruled out for Sunday as well. Ryan practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday before suffering the injury, then missed practice on Friday. 

Meanwhile, with two key members of the defensive line rotation banged up, the Browns had hoped some reinforcements could be on the way in the form of Kalia Davis, who spent the first four weeks of the season on the IR due to a quad injury. The team opened his 21-day practice window this week and he was on the field for Wednesday's session in a limited role, but wound up being listed as DNP for the final two days of practice and is unlikely to be activated to the 53-man roster in time for kickoff this weekend. 

And so, the Browns head to New York short-handed in the trenches on defense and will likely need to utilize some practice squad elevations to help their efforts along the D-line. Cleveland currently has three DTs on their practice squad in Sam Kamara, Chris Williams and Zion Logue.

Each team is permitted to elevate two players off the practice squad per week. They must be announced by 4 p.m. on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff from Metlife Stadium.