The Browns have ruled out Josh Gordon. He’s got a hamstring injury that will prevent him playing at New Orleans.
Most notably this makes it less appealing to maybe take a flyer on Tyrod Taylor (hoping he can duplicate what Ryan Fitzgerald pulled off in Week 1). Gordon is a Julio Jones type talent who can turn incompletions into long touchdowns. When he’s healthy and dialed in, he’s capable of being one of the league’s top dozen receivers.
The Browns will fill that void by using Rashard Higgins and Antonio Callaway a lot more. Higgins was on the field for 61 percent of their plays last week anyway. Those guys merit some consideration in large fantasy leagues. (OK, huge leagues – they have some potential, but they’re probably not the best available free agents in typical leagues – I would start Dante Pettis before either of these guys.)
The Gordon injury also might result in Jarvis Landry and David Njoku seeing a few more balls. Landry is definitely their No. 1 option, while Njoku is a guy they’ve used in the red zone.
The injury is unusual in that there was no mention of it on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, when the team filed its reports with the league. Could be an example of the team being less than forthcoming with the league-required listings. Gordon was linked with a hamstring injury in August.
The two Monday night teams on filed their reports. The biggest injuries are on the Seattle side. It won’t have Doug Baldwin, as expected. The Seahawks also won’t have their two good linebackers, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. With those linebackers out, I’m thinking the Bears will have plenty of success running the ball with Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen.
Seattle also should be missing guard D.J. Fluker and starting cornerback Tre Flowers.
Chicago looks pretty much healthy.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at CHICAGO BEARS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
OUT: WR Doug Baldwin (knee), LB Bobby Wagner (groin), LB K.J. Wright (knee)
DOUBTFUL: CB Tre Flowers (hamstring), G D.J. Fluker (hamstring), S Delano Hill (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Shaquill Griffin (thigh)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: WR Doug Baldwin (knee), CB Tre Flowers (hamstring), G D.J. Fluker (hamstring), S Earl Thomas (not injury related), LB Bobby Wagner (groin), LB K.J. Wright (knee)
Friday: WR Doug Baldwin (knee), CB Tre Flowers (hamstring), G D.J. Fluker (hamstring), CB Shaquill Griffin (thigh), S Delano Hill (hamstring), LB Bobby Wagner (groin), LB K.J. Wright (knee)
Saturday: WR Doug Baldwin (knee), CB Tre Flowers (hamstring), G D.J. Fluker (hamstring), S Delano Hill (hamstring), LB Bobby Wagner (groin), LB K.J. Wright (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Dion Jordan (knee), S Bradley McDougald (knee)
Friday: S Bradley McDougald (knee)
Saturday: CB Shaquill Griffin (thigh)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Frank Clark (elbow)
Friday: DE Frank Clark (elbow), DE Dion Jordan (knee)
Saturday: DE Frank Clark (elbow), DE Dion Jordan (knee), S Bradley McDougald (knee)
CHICAGO BEARS
OUT: S DeAndre Houston-Carson (forearm, back)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: S DeAndre Houston-Carson (forearm, back), G Kyle Long (ankle)
Friday: S DeAndre Houston-Carson (forearm, back), G Kyle Long (ankle)
Saturday: S DeAndre Houston-Carson (forearm, back)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB Bryce Callahan (knee)
Friday: CB Bryce Callahan (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: TE Daniel Brown (shoulder)
Saturday: CB Bryce Callahan (knee), G Kyle Long (ankle)
—Ian Allan