Browns T Drango learning as Thomas' replacement

Nov 23, 2017 - 12:48 AM BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns continue to lose games and they continue to lose valuable players to injured reserve.

The Browns (0-10) were forced to place starting defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (broken foot) and backup defensive tackle Jamie Meder (high-ankle sprain) on injured reserve on Tuesday ahead of their game with the Bengals on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

The biggest injury the Browns are still trying to overcome is the one that knocked All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas out for the season because of a triceps injury in the seventh game.

Spencer Drango, a second-year player from Baylor, will be making his fourth straight start when the Browns try to avenge a 31-7 loss to the Bengals Oct. 1 in Cleveland. Drango did not play from scrimmage in that game because Thomas was in the midst of his streak of playing in 10,363 consecutive snaps.

Drango played well in starts against Minnesota and Detroit, but he was responsible for giving up three sacks last week in a 19-7 loss to the Jaguars. Now, instead of heading into his next game with momentum, Drango is trying to rebound from the first real setback of his young career.

"Jacksonville has a good front," left guard Joel Bitonio, who lines up next to Drango, said this week. "I think for the most part, he played pretty well. There were a couple plays he'd like to have back. That's the hard part of being an offensive lineman. You have one or two bad plays and it changes the game."

Thomas started his 114th straight game at left tackle in the game against the Bengals earlier this season. Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer dropped back on 35 pass plays and was sacked only once. Right defensive end Carl Lawson, Thomas' assignment most of the day, did not make a tackle, although he was credited with two quarterback hurries.

Lawson is second on the Bengals with 5.5 sacks. Drango knows Lawson will see what the Jaguars did to beat Drango and try the same maneuvers. Drango began his film study of Lawson and the Bengals on Nov. 20. It was a way to put the Jacksonville game behind him and get a jump on his preparation for Cincinnati.

"The first Bengals game (from 2017) I watched was the last game we played them," Drango said. "They're going to change stuff up and we're going to change stuff up, but ultimately, they're the same team. The scheme may change, but the players' tendencies don't change much. That's something we have to hone in on. I'll see how Joe played it and try to mimic what Joe did."

Browns head coach Hue Jackson doesn't want Drango to think everything that went wrong in the Jacksonville game was Drango's fault. There were times when Kizer dropped back further than the play design called for. That was understandable because Kizer suffered bruised ribs in the game against the Lions a week earlier.

"It doesn't matter," Drango said. "He could be back 13 yards; I still have to block. A lot of guys call it the shot clock in your head. 'The ball should be out by now.' Most of the time that's right, but not all the time. You have to block as long as it takes."

Kizer has been sacked 21 times in nine games. He did not play against the Texans on Oct. 15.

SERIES HISTORY: 89th regular-season meeting. Bengals lead series, 49-39. The Browns have lost six straight to the Bengals back to a 30-0 loss in Cleveland on Dec. 4, 2014 in Johnny Manziel's first start as an NFL quarterback. Including that game, the Browns have given up at least 30 points in five of six straight losses to the Bengals.

--The Bengals hammered the Browns, 31-7, on Oct. 1 in Cleveland to win for the first time in 2017. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton shredded the Browns for four touchdown passes and 286 yards while completing 25 of 30 passes.

--Wide receiver Josh Gordon practiced with the Browns on Wednesday for the first time since training camp in 2016. He has not played in an NFL game since the 15th game of 2014.

"He's something, now," head coach Hue Jackson said. "It was a good first day with him - watching him run around and effort on the practice field, making plays on the ball, catching balls and doing things. He is what I thought he was."

Gordon cannot be made part of the active roster until Monday. He is eligible to play against the Chargers in Los Angeles.

--Defensive end Myles Garrett had to miss the first game with the Bengals because of a sprained ankle. He is healthy again and eager to finish the season on a strong note.

"I didn't come here to worry about stats or wins, losses," Garrett said. "I came here to have fun and make a difference. If I'm doing that and we're doing that and we're still doing our job, it will eventually come. We'll eventually turn it around and start winning games, but you can't let that discourage you. You just have to keep on enjoying the game. Otherwise, you could get stuck in a rut."

Garrett has 15 tackles and four sacks.

--The Browns and Bengals have been division rivals since 1970, excluding the years from 1996-98 when the Browns were in hiatus. The Bengals' current six-game winning streak is their longest in the history of the rivalry.

The Browns won seven straight over the Bengals from the second game of 1992 through the second game of 1995. It was the last time they met until the Browns returned as an expansion team in 1999.

NOTES: DE Nate Orchard is moving into the starting lineup at left end in place of Emmanuel Ogbah. Ogbah was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after suffering a broken foot in the game with Jacksonville on Nov. 19. He was tied for the team lead with four sacks. Orchard will be making his second start of the season. He started against the Vikings in place of Myles Garrett, who missed the game with a concussion. Orchard has 15 tackles and one sack this season. ... DE Emmanuel Ogbah (broken foot) was put on injured reserve on Tuesday. He was injured Nov. 19 in the game with Jacksonville. ... DT Jamie Meder (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. He was injured against the Jaguars. ... DL Tyrone Holmes was elevated from the practice squad. He played in 11 games with the Browns last season and had five tackles with one sack. ... DB Justin Currie was signed. He was originally signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie in 2015. He spent the season on injured reserve. He was on the Browns practice squad the last four weeks of the 2016 season. ... FS Jabrill Peppers (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. He was not on the post-game injury report from the Jacksonville game. ... WR Sammie Coates (knee) did not practice. He was injured last Sunday in the Jaguars game.