Don't be surprised if Braylon Edwards defies the odds and plays against the
Lions Sunday.
Edwards was upgraded from doubtful to questionable Friday and participated
fully in practice. It is a sign the rookie might play. If he does, it means he
will have missed only two weeks with an unidentified infection in his arm that
some doomsayers - the same guys who say the Browns will win only two games this
year - said would keep him out eight weeks.
Edwards said before practice he felt ready go. He was bouncing around like he
couldn't wait for practice to start.
The rookie wide receiver from Michigan missed the last two games while
recovering from surgery Feb. 8 to remove the infection from his right arm.
Edwards was listed as doubtful Wednesday and Thursday and was limited in
practice. Stitches in the nine-inch incision remain, but Coach Romeo Crennel
said Edwards can play with the stitches as long as he wears enough padding.
“The doctor said he'll be a game time decision," Coach Romeo Crennel said. "I
think they're pleased with the way the wound looks. Their major concern is the
wound itself and making it through the game without breaking it open again.
"Some of the concern is what kind of padding he'll use and what procedure the
doctors need to do to keep the stitches together if he plays in the game. If the
doctors say he can play then we'll use him.”
Edwards caught nine passes for 166 yards and a touchdown before the injury.
Tucker getting better: Right tackle Ryan Tucker thinks he can play
against the Lions. He went through practice without restrictions for the first
time this week. He has a chipped vertebra in his neck from the game in Baltimore
last Sunday and was restricted from contact Wednesday and Thursday.
"It feels a whole lot better today," he said before practice.
Kirk Chambers practiced with the first team Wednesday and Thursday and will
start if Tucker cannot.
Here's the scoop: Readers of BerniesInsiders often ask about offensive
tackle Nat Dorsey. Romeo addressed this issue Friday.
“He’s coming along," Crennel said. "He came from a different program
(Minnesota) and they did things differently. There was an adjustment period that
he had to go through, but I think he has made the adjustment.
"I think he is learning the offense and he’s done some things in practice
that make you take notice. He has long arms and he’s hard to get around. With
work and time he should be able to be a decent player for us.”
In other words, Dorsey is a work in progress. Watch him in training camp next
summer.
Still Pal Joey? Reports out of Detroit say Jeff Garcia is ready to go,
but Crennel said he expects Joey Harrington to start at quarterback Sunday. We
here at BerniesInsiders think Harrington will start but if he falters Steve
Mariucci won't hesitate to make the switch.