GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Cleveland Browns are expected to be without the services of wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi
and Travis Benjamin, in addition to 13 other players, for tonight’s game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Massaquoi was injured with what coach Pat Shurmur said was a concussion in the team’s preseason opener last Friday night in Detroit. Despite returning to the field for practice earlier this week, Massaquoi is not expected against the Packers.
The Browns are also expected to miss wide receiver Carlton Mitchell, defensive back Dimitri Patterson, running back Trent Richardson, linebackers D’Qwell Jackson, Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong, defensive linemen Scott Paxson, Frostee Rucker, Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin, as well as tight ends Jordan Cameron and Benjamin Watson.
Running back Montario Hardesty is expected to start for Richardson, while rookie Josh Gordon will play in place of Massaquoi and Benjamin. Either Alex Smith or Evan Moore is expected to start for Watson at tight end.
Defensively, Billy Winn will play for Rubin at tackle and Emmanuel Stephens will go in place of Rucker at right end. Rookie James-Michael Johnson will start for Fujita at linebacker and undrafted rookie free agent L.J. Fort is expected to start in place of Jackson at middle linebacker.
The Packers will be without wide receivers Shaky Smithson, Diondre Borel and Greg Jennings, running back Du’ane Bennett, Cedric Benson, Brandon Saine and James Starks, fullbacks John Kuhn and Jon Hoese, cornerbacks Davon House and Sam Shields, linebackers Desmond Bishop and Frank Zombo, defensive end Johnny Jones, guard Ray Dominguez, tackle Derek Sherrod and tight ends Andrew Quarless and Jermichael Finley.
