Cleveland QB carousel stops in Los Angeles

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Cleveland Browns will have their fourth starting quarterback of the season when they face the Los Angeles Rams.

Four quarterbacks started a game for the Rams last season. Sean McVay wouldn’t recommend it.

The coach also realizes the adversity of 2022 played a role in his team’s rebound into playoff contention this year.

“You can’t establish grit unless you go through real challenging experiences,” McVay said. “I can’t speak for other people, but I do know that I was spoiled with a lot of the good things (early in my career), and (adversity) forces you to continue to grow and mature as a leader.”

That might not be much comfort to Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns (7-4), who will have Joe Flacco behind center on Sunday after a week of training in the Southern California sun. Cleveland will attempt to avoid its first losing streak of a season that’s going remarkably well, considering the turmoil at quarterback.

“Across the league, and this year is no different, there’s a lot of backup quarterbacks that are playing,” Stefanski said. “We’re no different, and we have a certain standard that we play by as an offense, as a team, and it doesn’t really change based on who’s in there.”

With the 38-year-old Flacco making his first start since closing out the 2022 season for the New York Jets, Cleveland will lean on its powerhouse defense to shut down the Rams (5-6), whose hopes of an unlikely playoff run probably hinge on the health of Matthew Stafford. The veteran’s injured thumb is getting better, and he’s excited by LA’s two-week surge into the postseason conversation.

Cleveland’s defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, was Stafford’s head coach for his first five NFL seasons in Detroit.

“Really all phases on (Cleveland’s) defense make it an uncomfortable day for the quarterback, both in what they’re giving to you look-wise and also just the challenges they present personnel-wise as well,” Stafford said.

JJ’S REUNION

Safety John Johnson is back with the Rams after spending the past two seasons with Cleveland, which cut him last March. Johnson was drafted by the Rams, and he has reclaimed a prominent role this month.

The hard-hitting Johnson’s role changed when he changed teams, and many observers thought he wasn’t suited to his coverage-heavy responsibilities in Cleveland.

“I felt like I stayed stagnant, if anything,” Johnson said. “I didn’t really take off. My game didn’t elevate. I was just like in limbo, kind of. I just did what I’m told, you know. … Just me thinking about it now, I feel like I probably could have did some things differently, but the past is the past.”

BANGED-UP BROWNS

The Browns have spent the entire season on crutches.

But while the offense absorbed most of the major early injuries, Cleveland’s top-ranked defense has been feeling it the past two weeks.

All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett played much of last week with one arm after hurting his left shoulder, which he originally hurt last year when he flipped his Porsche following practice.

Fortunately, Garrett, who is having his best season, didn’t sustain any new structural damage. His teammates are confident he’ll be on the field with them on Sunday.

“He’s Superman,” cornerback Greg Newsome II said. ”We’re never too worried about Myles.”

Before last week’s game, Garrett joked that “everything hurts” this time of the season and the 28-year-old blamed his aches on being “just old.”

The Browns won’t have star cornerback Denzel Ward for the second straight week because of a shoulder injury. Ward’s absence was felt from the outset as Cleveland’s secondary seemed out of sorts without him.

KYREN’S FRIENDS

Running back Kyren Williams is having a breakout season for the Rams with three 100-yard performances in the past four games, including the last two.

Williams is appropriately wary of Cleveland’s vaunted defense, even if it gave up 169 yards rushing to Denver last week. He’s looking forward to the chance to fight off tackle attempts by Newsome, a close friend, and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, his teammate for two seasons at Notre Dame.

And no matter how the game goes, Williams is planning a postgame jersey swap with Owusu-Koramoah.

“I’m gonna let him know early, before I start getting to him, ‘I’m gonna need that jersey,’” Williams said with a grin.

THE LOGO

During their extended stay in Los Angeles, the Browns met with some local basketball royalty. No, not LeBron James.

Legendary Lakers guard and Hall of Famer Jerry West spoke with Cleveland’s players, who were struck by the 85-year-old’s presence and passion.

“It was great,” said All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio, a California native who grew up rooting for the Lakers. “His illustrious career as a player, coach and executive in the NBA is second to none.”

“He said he hates losing more than he loves winning,” said Newsome. “So a guy like that, you definitely learn a lot from.”

Beyond being a 14-time All-Star, one of the NBA’s all-time best players, and the silhouetted image for the league’s iconic logo, West was also the architect of the powerhouse “Showtime” Lakers teams in the 1980s.

West’s visit with the team at UCLA was made possible through Stefanski’s father, Ed, a longtime NBA executive. West told the players he grew up in West Virginia as a Browns fan.

Bitonio said West’s message centered on togetherness.

“The overall picture was just being a good teammate, playing for your guys, executing and having a bigger purpose out there,” Bitonio said. “It was very cool. He’s getting up there in age, but he’s still sharp and still really cool to hear a legend.”

CLEVELAND (7-4) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (5-6)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, FOX

BETTING LINE: Rams by 3 1/2 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Browns 6-4-1; Rams 5-4-2.

SERIES RECORD: Rams lead 13-11.

LAST MEETING: Rams beat Browns 20-13 on Sept. 22, 2019, in Cleveland.

LAST WEEK: Browns lost to Broncos 29-12; Rams beat Cardinals 37-14.

BROWNS OFFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (3), PASS (27), SCORING (15).

BROWNS DEFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (12), PASS (1), SCORING (7).

RAMS OFFENSE: OVERALL (17), RUSH (T-14), PASS (14), SCORING (16).

RAMS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (18), PASS (14), SCORING (16).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Browns minus-7; Rams minus-3.

BROWNS PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Myles Garrett played much of last week’s game after re-injuring his left shoulder, which was initially hurt in a single-car crash last year. Garrett is the Browns’ most indispensable player and leader of Cleveland’s top-ranked defense. He has 13 sacks and because he’s often double-teamed, Garrett’s very presence creates opportunities for others to make plays.

RAMS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Kyren Williams returned from a four-game absence because of an ankle injury with a dominant showing against the Cardinals. He ran for 143 yards and caught two touchdown passes, supercharging an offense that hadn’t scored more than 20 points in a game while Williams was out.

KEY MATCHUP: Browns QB Joe Flacco or Dorian Thompson-Robinson vs. Rams DL Aaron Donald. When Deshaun Watson went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, the Browns signed the 38-year-old Flacco, the Super Bowl 47 MVP, as their insurance policy. He hasn’t played since last season and his limited mobility could make him easy pickings for Donald and the rest of L.A.’s defensive front. Donald had a rare game where he did not get a tackle against the Cardinals, the second time it happened this season.

KEY INJURIES: The Browns dodged another major injury setback when an MRI showed no new structural damage to Garrett’s shoulder. Still, he’s potentially limited. .. Thompson-Robinson has been in concussion protocol since taking a nasty hit against the Broncos. … Browns top CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) was sorely missed last week and may need more time. … DT Jordan Elliott (ankle) is expected back after being hurt last week. … LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) should also return following a one-game absence. … Rams S Quentin Lake (hamstring) might miss his second straight game.

SERIES NOTES: The series between Los Angeles and Cleveland includes three NFL championship games between 1950-1955. The Browns won the title in 1950 and 1955, while the Rams were victorious in 1951. … The Rams have won the past three meetings against the Browns. … Cleveland’s previous win over the Rams was in 2007. … This will be Cleveland’s first game against the Rams in Los Angeles since they moved back in 2016. Bill Belichick was the Browns head coach in their most recent visit, defeating Chuck Knox’s Rams 42-14 in Anaheim, California on Dec. 26, 1993.

STATS AND STUFF: Cleveland’s playoff hopes took a knock last week and the Browns can’t afford many more missteps in a crowded AFC field. … If Flacco starts, he’ll the Browns’ fourth starting QB in 12 games. … The Browns’ defense continues to lead the NFL in several statistical categories (total, passing and third down percentage), but has shown some holes in recent weeks and is dealing with numerous injuries. … The Browns’ 1,562 yards passing allowed are the second fewest through 12 weeks going back to 1999. Only the 2019 49ers (1,506) gave up fewer. … Browns TE David Njoku leads the team with 51 catches, but has been plagued by drops the past two games. … Browns K Dustin Hopkins returns to L.A., where he spent two seasons before the Chargers traded him in August. Hopkins leads the league with 28 made field goals and is 7 of 7 beyond 50 yards. … Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had 12 tackle, a sack and forced a fumble last week. … Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw four touchdowns against the Cardinals, his 15th career game with at least four scoring passes. But the 229 yards passing Stafford had was his lowest total in a game with four or more scores. … After generating at least 71 yards receiving in six of his first seven games, including four 100-yard performances, rookie WR Puca Nacua has not topped 70 yards in any of his past four outings. … Los Angeles has held three straight opponents to fewer than 21 points for the first time since Weeks 5-7 of the 2021 season. … TE Tyler Higbee caught his first two touchdowns of the season against Arizona. … Rookie DT Kobie Turner had his first multi-sack game against the Cardinals. He has three sacks, three tackles for loss and 18 total tackles in his past three games.

FANTASY TIP: It has been a season to forget for Rams WR Cooper Kupp, who likely belongs on benches this week facing a tough matchup at less than full health. Kupp has 10 receptions for 98 yards in his past four games, the kind of production fantasy managers would have expected in one afternoon at the height of his productivity.