The Browns will be without veteran DE Olivier Vernon for the fifth time this season when they face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Vernon and DB Eric Murray (knee) were officially ruled out Friday as the team prepared to travel to Phoenix. C JC Tretter (knee) and RT Chris Hubbard (knee) are considered questionable.
Vernon has been dealing with a knee injury since late in the action Week 9 in Denver. He returned Week 13 for the Browns' game at Pittsburgh, but was limited to just 12 snaps and did not dress last week against the Bengals.
Tretter carried the questionable tag into last week's game but did not miss a snap. He has not missed a game since joining the Browns in 2017. Tretter was limited in Friday's practice after not participating the previous two days.
Hubbard was not active for last week's game and was limited throughout the week of practice. Without Hubbard against the Bengals, the Browns deployed Kendall Lamm and likely would do the same if Hubbard were once again unavailable.
Without Vernon and Myles Garrett, who is serving an indefinite suspension, the Browns have relied on Chad Thomas and the tandem of Porter Gustin and Bryan Cox, neither of whom were on the team through the first half of the season.
Check out photos of the Browns preparing for their game against the Cardinals Sunday by team photographer Matt Starkey
Wide receiver Taywan Taylor (10) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Safety Damarious Randall (23) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Safety Eric Murray (22) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Linebacker Montrel Meander (41) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Linebacker Tae Davis (55) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Safety Tigie Sankoh (33) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Safety J.T. Hassell (49) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Wide receiver Damion Ratley (18) during practice on December 11, 2019.
J'Mon Moore during practice on December 11, 2019.
Wide Receiver Sheldon Gibson (17) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Linebacker Joe Schobert (53) and Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Defensive end Bryan Cox (94) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Linebacker Joe Schobert (53) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during practice on December 11, 2019.
Safety Juston Burris (31) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) and Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Safety Eric Murray (22) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Defensive end Chad Thomas (92) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (74) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens and Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Offensive tackle Greg Robinson (78) during practice on December 11, 2019.
