The Cleveland Browns (1-3) travel to Washington to take on the Commanders (3-1) in Week 5. It’s as close to a must-win game as there is this time of year with the season starting to slip away.
Here are three Browns players who could impact the game the most:
Running back Jerome Ford
Cleveland seems to be losing its trust in quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has thrown for just 727 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions to begin the year.
Instead, the team has relied on its ground game, which has been good enough while four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb continues to work his way back from his 2023 season-ending knee injury.
Ford has played well, rushing for 203 yards and a touchdown on 39 carries (5.2 yards per carry). He has a good chance to have another strong outing on Sunday against the Commanders, who are allowing the 10th-most rushing yards per game (136.5) in the league.
Plus, Ford’s opportunities to prove he still deserves a role in the offense are running out with Chubb’s return nearing after he practiced for the first time on Wednesday.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Owusu-Koramoah has been all over the field to start the year, registering a team-leading 34 tackles and four for a loss.
The Browns are hoping that will remain true on Sunday as they have the daunting task of trying to contain rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who’s proven to be dangerous with his legs.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is not afraid to take off, having accumulated 218 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Owusu-Koramoah must do his best to prevent that from happening early and often on Sunday.
Cornerback Denzel Ward
Daniels has also been quite an efficient passer with a league-leading 82.1 completion percentage among players with at least three attempts.
The rookie has quickly developed a connection with wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who has 11 catches for 152 yards and two touchdown the past two weeks.
Daniels will likely continue looking McLaurin’s way this week, and it will be on Ward to make him look elsewhere.
Ward, the No. 4 overall pick in 2018, has seven tackles and seven passes defensed on the season.
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