Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden will be among the handful of Cleveland Browns players undergoing MRIs on Monday after sustaining a shoulder injury Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Haden suffered the injury during the first quarter and never returned. It put a quick end to the second installment of his highly anticipated duel with Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, whom Haden limited when they matched up last month in Cincinnati. Green finished with five catches for 49 yards Sunday with three of the receptions coming on the Bengals' first series of the game.
The Browns' secondary, already dealing with injuries to NFL interception leader Tashaun Gipson (knee) and nickel back K'Waun Williams (hamstring), was dealt another blow when rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert exited with a head injury in the first half and didn't return. Gilbert saw extensive playing time before the injury because Williams' absence opened a spot for him when the Browns played nickel.
With both players out, rookie Pierre Desir saw his first career action as a defensive back. He played the majority of the second half on the opposite side of the field from fellow cornerback Buster Skrine.
Haden bounced back from a relatively slow start to the season and has played at an elite level for weeks. Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil recently called Haden the best cornerback in the NFL.
Kickoff returner Marlon Moore injured his knee in the first quarter and did not return. The Browns used four different kickoff returners Sunday, as Travis Benjamin, Taylor Gabriel and Shaun Draughn took turns after Moore.
- Linebacker Paul Kruger became the eighth Brown in franchise history and first since 2006 to record double-digit sacks when he brought down Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton early in the third quarter. With 10 on the season, Kruger is tied for seventh all-time with Rob Burnett (1994). One more will move him into a tie for fourth with three others, including Kameron Wimbley (2006). Reggie Camp (1984) is the Browns' all-time single-season leader with 14.
- The Browns' newest acquisition, kicker Garrett Hartley, never saw the field Sunday. Cleveland didn't attempt any field goals and punter Spencer Lanning handled kickoffs. Hartley, who spent six seasons with the New Orleans Saints but hadn't kicked in 2014, was signed Saturday to replace Billy Cundiff, who was waived.
- Craig Robertson led the Browns with 10 tackles, marking the third consecutive game he hit double digits. In the five games Cleveland has been without Karlos Dansby (knee), Robertson has racked up 53 tackles. His second-quarter interception was his second of the season, both of which have come against the Bengals.
- Bengals players and coach Marvin Lewis didn't shy away from saying revenge played a factor in their motivation for Sunday's game. The Browns drubbed Cincinnati, 24-3, on a Thursday night nationally televised game last month at Paul Brown Stadium.
- We had to come up here and win this football game, and the guys had that quietness about them and a workman's attitude," Lewis said. "That's good. We need to end with that. We're on the march and we have another big one coming up."
