The Cleveland Browns defeated the Houston Texans in Week 2 to improve to 1-1, but paid a steep cost when wide receiver Jarvis Landry exited the game prematurely due to a knee injury.
Initial reports said Landry suffered an MCL injury on the opening drive, but an MRI on Monday revealed a sprain and not a tear. Landry went down after a nine-yard completion for his only catch of the game.
Since joining the NFL in 2014, the ironman Landry played every game of his career with the exception of one. Last season against the New York Jets, the Browns held Landry out due to the COVID-19 health and safety protocol when he was deemed to have had close contact with a staff member who had tested positive for coronavirus.
A surly Landry would love to play in Week 3’s matchup against the Chicago Bears, but his status will be determined based on how he responds to treatments this week. He’s currently listed as questionable and on a week-to-week basis.
Odell Beckham, Jr missed the first two games of this season because he’s still not 100% ready to return to action after recovering from ACL surgery last season. Beckham was a last-minute scratch in Week 1 and the Browns sat him in Week 2. It’s unknown if OBJ will return to action in Week 3 against the Bears, considering the Browns could be short-handed without Landry.
Donovan Peoples-Jones took over as a slot receiver when he filled in for Landry after his injury, but he caught only one pass for 14 yards. The Browns have some depth with Rashard Higgins and a strong trio of tight ends, including David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, and Austin Hooper.
The Browns (1-1) opened as a -7.5 favorite over the Bears (1-1) heading into Week 3. Despite Landry’s injury, the Browns’ futures didn’t change. You can back the Browns at +1600 odds to win Super Bowl 56, according to the South Point Sports Book in Las Vegas.