Monday Night Football will be a challenge for the Cleveland Browns to prove the humiliating Week 1 loss to the Titans. They will need to do so with a couple of reserves being thrust into more prominent roles.
Eric Murray will step in to take at least part of Damarious Randall’s role as the high safety in Steve Wilks’ defense. Randall is out with a concussion. On the other side of the ball, D’Ernest Johnson assumes Dontrell Hilliard’s spot as the backup RB and primary return man.
Murray has proven capable in the past. He started 11 games in three seasons as a utility DB with the Chiefs and worked in the preseason at both safety and cornerback. Like Randall, he’s a coverage-oriented safety.
Johnson got some run as the Browns punt and kick returner in the preseason and looked decent. He averaged 21.2 yards per kick return on six attempts. The AAF refugee also led the Browns in rushing with 86 yards at 4.2 yards per clip.
This duo will need to embrace the “next man up” mantra to help the Browns beat the Jets. Fans should be reasonably confident in the depth GM John Dorsey assembled for incidents just like this.
