6 ruled out, 4 questionable for Eagles vs. Browns in Week 6

Ryan OLeary

•
6 ruled out, 4 questionable for Eagles vs. Browns in Week 6 image

Early-season bye weeks are often seen as a disadvantage for NFL teams, but this year’s came at the perfect time for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cleveland Browns? They could use a week off right now. 

Fresh off a week away, the Eagles (2-2) will host the Browns (1-4) Sunday at the Linc (1 p.m. EST) with their full complement of weapons. Key offensive starters Lane Johnson (concussion), DeVonta Smith (concussion) and A.J. Brown (hamstring) all returned to a full week of practice and have been medically cleared to play in Week 6.

MORE: NFL picks, predictions Week 6: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are in a much more troublesome spot, health-wise. Not only do they travel to Philly riding an ugly, three-game losing streak, but they’ll be down multiple starters for Sunday’s game.

Here’s a full break down off of Friday’s final practice report of the week:

Eagles vs. Browns: Full injury designations

Cleveland Browns

Out 

  • RB Nick Chubb (knee)

No surprises here. Chubb remains on the NFL’s reserve/PUP list and has only practiced in a limited capacity as he continues to work his way back from last season’s gruesome knee injury. Chubb has now strung together consecutive weeks of practice without a setback, and the team has until Oct. 23 to activate him, so his return is nearing. It just won’t be against Philadelphia.

  • S Grant Delpit (concussion)

The Browns will be down their starting strong safety after Delpit was unable to clear the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol. Rodney McLeod Jr., a 13-year NFL veteran, will be the next man up after playing a season-high 51 snaps in last week’s loss to the Washington Commanders.

  • S Ronnie Hickman Jr. (ankle) 

Make that two starting safeties ruled out for Week 6. Hickman injured his ankle in the Commanders game and was unable to practice on Friday. The Browns will likely turn to undrafted safety D’Anthony Bell in Hickman’s absence. Bell performed well in his 20 snaps in relief last week, earning a grade of 72.0 from PFF.

  • RB Nyheim Hines (knee)

Hines logged three capped practice sessions this week, but was not activated off the NFL’s non-football injury list. The Browns removed running backs D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong from their injury report, so they’ll be the backups to starter Jerome Ford against the Eagles.

  • LT James Hudson (shoulder)

Hudson shared on Instagram Thursday that he underwent shoulder surgery. He’s reportedly headed for injured reserve and is expected to miss the remainder of 2024. Hudson started three games for the Browns this season. Jedrick Wills Jr. appears poised to start at left tackle on Sunday.

  • C Ethan Pocic (knee)

The Browns’ starting center left last week’s game against the Commanders with a knee injury and did not practice this week. Former fifth-round pick Nick Harris, who played 40 snaps in relief of Pocic in Week 4, is the next man up.

Questionable

  • LB Mohamoud Diabate (hip) 

Diabate hasn’t played since Week 1, when he left Cleveland’s game against the Dallas Cowboys with a hip issue. He was designated to return off IR this week and practiced in full on Friday, putting the 23-year-old on the right side of questionable.

  • LB Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps)

The Browns are hoping to get one of their starting inside linebackers back in the lineup, after Hicks missed Week 5 with multiple injuries. Hicks logged three limited practices this week. The team will make a decision on Sunday morning, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

  • DT Maurice Hurst (ankle)

Hurst is another player the Browns have designated to return from IR. He’s got a chance to play Sunday after practicing in full on Friday. Hurst opened the season as a starter for the Browns before suffering an ankle injury Week 1 against the Cowboys.

  • CB Denzel Ward (hamstring)

The Browns lost their top cornerback for the majority of last week’s loss to Washington, and he could miss a second straight week after missing practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Ward was able to return to practice in a limited capacity on Friday, but hamstrings tend to take multiple weeks to heal. Cameron Mitchell, a 2023 fifth-round pick out of Northwestern, would likely go in Ward’s place if he’s inactive.

Philadelphia Eagles

No injury designations 

The Eagles will have their full 53-man roster available against the banged-up Browns. The team opened the 21-day practice windows for rookie wide receiver Ainias Smith and safety Sydney Brown, and both were able to log full practices on Friday.

Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.