New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots will welcome the Cleveland Browns to their home stadium on Sunday after spending three weeks on the road.
Cleveland delivered a strong performance last week, defeating the Miami Dolphins 31-6. Injuries kept two of the Browns’ key offensive players, right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end David Njoku, out of the game.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski informed reporters on Wednesday that he’s “hopeful” Njoku can play but will remain day-to-day, while Conklin has cleared concussion protocols, via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefus.
Njoku sustained a knee injury, and Conklin suffered a concussion during Cleveland’s Week 6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Njoku and Conklin’s potential return promises hope for the Browns, whose offense ranks last at 32nd, according to Pro Football Focus.
With Conklin sidelined last week, the Browns took an unusual approach at right tackle. They rotated KT Leveston, who saw 30 snaps, alongside Cornelius Lucas, who played for 27 snaps.
Even though the Browns have a 2-5 record, the Patriots must not overlook this matchup. Cleveland’s offense may struggle to score, but its defense can definitely give New England’s offense a tough time. The Browns have allowed an impressive 256.1 total yards per game this season, making it the best in the NFL.
