On Sunday, the 4-3 Browns will take on the 1-7 Cardinals at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns defense will face a Cardinals offense who still has some uncertainty at quarterback.
On Tuesday, the Cardinals traded their starting quarterback, Joshua Dobbs, to the Vikings in exchange for a sixth-round pick. With Dobbs starting every game this season, the Cardinals were ranked 28th in passing yards with 1,447 passing yards. They were also 20th in points scored with an average of 18.9 points per game.
As of Thursday, the Cardinals have yet to name their starting quarterback for Sunday's matchup. It will either be QB Kyler Murray, who is coming off a knee injury and makes his return, or rookie QB Clayton Tune. Neither quarterback has played a quarterback snap this season. Tune's lone appearance in the regular season this year was to run a fake punt in Seattle in Week 7.
"I think we're kind of familiar with Kyler and what he's capable of and the type of player that he is out there," CB Denzel Ward said. "Yeah, definitely a little bit more difficult watching the other guy (Tune), but like I said, just got to come prepared and study their receivers and see what they like to do, and I think we'll be good."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for the Arizona Cardinals
Safety Tanner McCalister (48), Safety Grant Delpit (22), Safety Juan Thornhill (1) and Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Running back Kenyan Drake (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt and Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Offensive tackle Geron Christian (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Wide receiver James Proche II (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Tight end Jordan Akins (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Tight end Jordan Akins (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Running back Kenyan Drake (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Running back Kenyan Drake (39) and Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Linebacker Matthew Adams (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 1, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Kenyan Drake (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Offensive tackle Leroy Watson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Kenyan Drake (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Tight end Jordan Akins (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) and Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Monty Gibson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Equipment Assistant Vincent Herzog during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Cornerback A.J. Green III (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Tight end Devin Asiasi (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Linebacker Matthew Adams (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Offensive tackle Leroy Watson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Running back Kenyan Drake (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Safety Tanner McCalister (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 2, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) and Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 3, 2023.
The Cardinals offense has been struggling and will have a tough challenge with either quarterback in the passing game. But both quarterbacks may affect the game with their legs, just like Dobbs did.
Dobbs and a committee of running backs have helped the Cardinals rush for a total of 1,102 yards, which ranks as the fourth best in the league. During games, the Cardinals also utilize a couple of QB draws, and both Murray and Tune could be employed in a similar fashion.
"I think that we have eight games of their offense on film and with (Josh) Dobbs running," DC Jim Schwartz said. "They ran a lot of quarterback runs. So, I wouldn't be surprised if there's anything different with Kyler Murray if he plays; and I would expect if the rookie plays, for them to stay with what they've done. I don't imagine that they would change the entire game plan just for one guy."
In all, the Browns defense has an opportunity to dominate Sunday's game. The defense's worst games this season have been on the road – with the late-game touchdown to Seattle in their 24-20 loss in Week 8 and the 39-38 win over the Colts, when they gave up the most points this season. At home, they have held two teams to three points and held the best offense at the time in the 49ers to 17 points.
The Browns have playmakers all around the field. DE Myles Garrett has been the best pass rusher in the league. His 26.3 percent pass rush win rate is first in the league. In the secondary, they have CB Martin Emerson Jr., who, in Sunday's game against the Seahawks, allowed a 27.1 passer rating when thrown to his side. He also caught his second interception of the year and had two pass deflections. They also have Ward, who caught his first interception of the season against the Colts and has seven pass deflections.
As a team, they have a total of 20 sacks and have allowed a total of 1,143 passing yards this season. They are still number one at stopping opponents from getting a first down at 25.9 percent. They also have the lowest opponent completion percentage, with 55.4 percent.
The Brown's defense should cause havoc on Sunday, but they are not taking the Cardinals for granted.
"It's the NFL, so there's not a bad team in the NFL," Ward said. "So we can't take anybody lightly. We got to go in and do our job, like I said, and execute and take care of our business. So regardless of record, it's whoever wins that day."
