The Cleveland Browns' laundry list of injuries is continuing to grow this week.
The injuries for the #Browns have reached the kicker and punter level...
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 26, 2023
• K Dustin Hopkins is week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Riley Patterson will take over as the kicker, starting with Thursday night vs. the Jets.
• P Corey Bojorquez has a quad injury and the team is… https://t.co/KN6jOurFMe
The Browns roster has been one of the most injury-riddled of 2023, yet still find themselves in a great position to make the postseason at 10-5. They'll clinch a playoff berth for the first time since the 2020 campaign with a win on the season finale of "Thursday Night Football" in Week 17 against the New York Jets.
The Browns have an 87.7% chance to end up in the 5 seed in the AFC playoffs, per ESPN FPI. There's a 94.5% chance the 4 seed winds up being the AFC South champ (Jags, Colts, Texans)
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 26, 2023
Due to all the injuries Cleveland has had to deal with, the fact that it's even in contention for a playoff spot is remarkable. 2020 AP Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski should be one of the top candidates to win the award in 2023 again.
One of the biggest blows to the roster came in Week 2 of the team's "Monday Night Football" game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending torn MCL. Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson battled inconsistent play again this season and multiple injuries before finally being shut down for the year in November due to a shoulder injury.
On defense, starting safety Juan Thornhill hasn't played since Week 13 because of a calf ailment and starting linebacker Anthony Walker has missed the last two games (and three of the last five) with a knee issue. Defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo went down with a torn pectoral in Week 14 and despite playing through the injury during that game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 28-year-old has missed the last two contests.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins is in his ninth NFL season and first with the Browns, which has arguably been his best. He leads the league with 33 field goals (in 36 attempts) and is a perfect 8-for-8 on tries from at least 50 yards away.
Punter Corey Bojorquez is in his sixth season (second in Cleveland) and has recorded career highs in punts (80) and punt yardage (3,959).
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