CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns got some bad news Monday on two of their key weapons who were hurt during Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Lions.
No. 2 receiver Cedric Tillman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter, and returner DeAndre Carter, who suffered a knee injury in the second half, will both miss multiple weeks with their injuries.
It’s blow for the Browns as they try to regroup from the loss and their 1-3 record.
Tillman, who was off to a slow start this season with only 11 catches for 106 yards, was trying to rebound after missing the final six games of last season with a concussion. Against the Lions, he caught one of two targets for 6 yards before suffering the injury. The receptions and yards are both tied for fourth on the team, but he leads the club with two touchdowns.
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Tillman was also the intended receiver on the first of Joe Flacco’s interceptions in Detroit, when Tillman ran a hitch, and Flacco threw a fade. Safety Kerby Joseph, the only player within a mile, easily picked off the pass. After the game, Flacco took responsibility for the gaffe, saying he expected Tillman to run the go route, and citing his own mental error.
Tillman also had a pass go off his hands and get intercepted in the Week 1 17-16 loss to the Bengals.
But most of the receivers are struggling this season with Flacco under tremendous pressure and having to rush many of his throws.
“It starts with everybody just doing their job,” Kevinn Stefanski said. “You’ve seen that at times from this offense where guys are doing their job and we’re able to move it. Obviously, with Ced out, like you mentioned, we’re going to need some guys to step up in that role and provide some value, both in the pass game and the run game. But those are things that we’ll work through. I really believe in the group we have in that room, and we just have some guys that have to step up.”
In Tillman’s absence, Isaiah Bond and Jamari Thrash both got more reps, with Bond finishing second to Jerry Jeudy’s 55 with 37, and Thrash getting third-most among receivers with 28.
The loss of Carter, who hobbled out of the locker room in a left knee brace, is a blow, because he leads the Browns in both punt returns and kick returns. Bond has returned one punt, and Jerome Ford has returned four kickoffs, with Kaden Davis returning one.
The Browns will have to decide of Bond can return punts given his extra duties on offense now.
The loss of Tillman won’t help Dillon Gabriel, who will likely be named the starting quarterback in place of Joe Flacco by Wednesday.