Despite falling to the Steelers in Week 14, the Browns are focused on making improvements as they prepare to host the Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, in Week 15.
One improvement the Browns will emphasize is limiting giveaways on offense and creating turnovers on defense.
In the loss to the Steelers, Browns QB Jameis Winston threw two interceptions and WR Kadarius Toney muffed a punt return in the fourth quarter, bringing the Browns' total giveaways to three in the loss. Defensively, DE Isaiah McGuire forced a fumble in the fourth quarter and DE Myles Garrett recovered the loose ball for their only takeaway of the day.
"It's extremely disappointing to play not well enough to get a win on the road. Obviously, losing the turnover battle is difficult, makes life harder on yourself and trying to find a way to win," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said the day after the game. "So, we have to do a better job there, which I think is obvious. So, there's things that we feel like we can clean up and do better and that's what we'll do. We'll just keep our head down and get back to work."
As the Browns reckon with being eliminated from playoff contention, here are the top news and notes from Stefanski's time with the media.
No changes at starting quarterback are expected
When asked about the Browns' plan at starting quarterback, Stefanski said that he was sticking with Winston. He also stated that the Browns' focus was finding ways to get a win.
Winston is 2-4 in his six starts this season, averaging over 315 passing yards per game. He's thrown 12 touchdown passes since taking over as the Browns starting quarterback in Week 8 against the Ravens but has also thrown 10 interceptions.
"We need to play better as an offense to help our team win. We don't want to give the ball away in any form or fashion. We don't want to fumble it away, we don't want to throw interceptions," Stefanski said. "But we also coach each play, because each play is a little different than the last. So, like I've said to you guys before, not all interceptions are created equal and all we can do with any play is learn from them and that's what Jameis will continue to do."
Winston has been a vocal leader in the locker room since arriving in Cleveland in the offseason ahead of the 2024 season.
LG Wyatt Teller called Winston a source of joy in the locker room amidst the Browns' struggles this season. When asked about the Browns' decision to stick with Winston, Teller said that despite who lines up under center for the Browns, he and the rest of the offensive line will be motivated to protect the starting quarterback.
"I want the best for [Winston], I want the best for Dorian [Thompson-Robinson], I want the best for Bailey [Zappe]," Teller said. "I want the best for all of our guys. So, I don't know if it has much to do with whoever's back there, but I love the guys and I love my job and I just want to do that the best."
Isaiah McGuire displaying promise as his role increases
After the Browns traded DE Za’Darius Smith to the Lions ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline, second-year DE Isaiah McGuire has seen an increased role in the Browns’ pass rush.
"He's done a nice job with those increased reps," Stefanski said. "He was close (to getting a sack) a couple times yesterday, so it's just, to me, an example of a young player that's going to continue to work and try and get a little bit better every single week."
McGuire played an average of 31 percent of snaps per game before the trade deadline and has played over 48 percent of snaps in each of the Browns' four games since.
Through the first 13 games of the season, McGuire has 24 total tackles, a half-sack and 17 quarterback pressures. Against the Steelers in Week 14, McGuire finished with three total tackles and his second fumble recovery of the year, which came in the fourth quarter.
Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson took a handoff and bounced to the outside before McGuire punched the ball out of his hands, giving the Browns their lone turnover of the game.
With veteran leaders like Garrett and DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, McGuire has been able to gain valuable perspective as he adjusts to a larger role on the Browns defense.
"That's a big part of player development, is leaning on your locker room, leaning on that position room, leaning on the guys out there on the practice field," Stefanski said. "I think if you watch our D-line work throughout the day and watch them on the field together, there's a lot of conversation between the vets and the young guys talking about what works, what might now work and what are some things that they see."
Injury updates
Stefanski issued several updates regarding both players who participated in Week 14 as well as those who missed the game due to injury.
CB Mike Ford Jr. was ruled out for the second half of the game after sustaining a head injury on a punt after the Browns' opening offensive drive in the first quarter. Ford is still in the concussion protocol.
CB Greg Newsome II sustained a hamstring injury during a punt return in the fourth quarter. Stefanski said that Newsome would "miss time" but was unsure of how long he would be out. The hamstring injury occurred on the same leg that he had hamstring surgery on over the offseason.
WR Cedric Tillman, who sustained a concussion in Week 12 against the Steelers, missed both the Browns' Week 13 game against the Broncos as well as their Week 14 game against the Steelers. Stefanski said that the second-year receiver was still in the concussion protocol.
DT Mike Hall Jr. was placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury ahead of the Browns' Week 12 game against the Steelers. Having missed the minimum requirement of four games, Hall is eligible to return to practice, but Stefanski said he was unclear when that would occur.
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury in Week 8 against the Ravens. Stefanski ruled the four-year linebacker out for the Browns' Week 15 game against the Chiefs and said he would not go past this week in terms of ruling Owusu-Koramoah out for the remainder of the season.
