John Brown questionable for Sunday’s tilt vs. Browns

TEMPE, Ariz. — The final injury report for the Arizona Cardinals’ Week 8 matchup with the Cleveland Browns was released Friday, with 10 Arizona players having their names listed.

Of those 10, only tight end Darren Fells (shoulder) and linebacker Alex Okafor (calf) have been officially ruled out for the game.

“Jerraud Powers will make the trip, he’ll be questionable, he’s making good progress,” head coach Bruce Arians said. “John Brown and Brittan Golden practiced today, they’re questionable. We’ll see how they are, game-time decisions like last week.

“Everybody else will be ready to roll.”

That Powers could even have a chance at playing seems miraculous, as he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in Monday night’s win over the Baltimore Ravens and seemed destined to miss at least one game.

Brown, however, is a different story. The second-year pro has been dealing with sore hamstrings for the last couple of weeks — playing through the issues — but made it through just one “limited” practice this week. Needless to say, he’s a little tired of being a game-time decision.

“But good thing is it’s getting close to the bye week so you know I can get 100 percent and be ready to go again,” he said.

The Cardinals’ off week is Week 9, meaning there will be two weeks between Sunday’s tilt with the Browns and their next game, which is in Seattle against the Seahawks. That fact could impact how Arizona approaches its ailing players, possibly electing to give them this week off in order to ensure they are completely healed for that big divisional matchup.

But according to Arians, that’s not at all the case.

“Not a damn bit,” he answered when asked how much the bye week will impact their decision making. “There is no bye week until next week. This is this week.”

There’s no doubt the Cardinals could use Brown against the Browns.

The 2014 third-round pick out of Pittsburg State is second on the team with 37 receptions and 562 receiving yards, but has come on strong with 18 catches for 334 yards and two touchdowns over the last three games. Brown said if he does not play Sunday, the team has “a whole bunch of great receivers that I know can get the job done,” so he’s not going to press himself to play if he’s not able to do so.

Given how he has played the last two weeks while not being 100 percent, it’s apparent he does not have to be at full strength to make a significant impact. Yet, there’s no reason to make things worse than they are, which will be a factor until he is fully healed.

“I really want to make sure I’m back to 100 percent because you know I can’t play half speed,” he said. “The only thing I know is full speed. I don’t want to do anything, Carson (Palmer) throws a ball or Drew (Stanton) throws a ball too far — I’m going to go get it, and I don’t want to pull anything that is more than what it is right now.”

That will factor into the team’s decision Sunday morning. The inactive list will be released about 90 minutes prior to kickoff, so about 9:30 a.m. Arizona time. As for whether or not he expects to play, Brown — like his coach — said it will simply come down to how he is feeling that morning.

 

 

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