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In The Trenches

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Dillon Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol | In the Trenches

The Browns play the Raiders in Las Vegas in Week 12

In the Trenches 11.17 Browns Raiders article

The Browns are visiting Las Vegas for the second consecutive season, playing the Raiders in Week 12 at Allegiant Stadium.

Cleveland enters its sixth road game of the season on the heels of a 23-16 loss to the Ravens in Week 11. The Browns will aim to recover against the Raiders and play complementary football to pick up their third win of the season.

"Obviously watched the tape last night, this morning, watching it now with the players," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Disappointed because that's a ballgame in the fourth quarter where you want to go finish and get a win as a football team, and we came up short. It's all things that we will learn from. We absolutely have to play complementary ball there — offense, defense, special teams — to find a way to win and that's what we'll be focused on this week."

Here are the main pieces of news heading into the matchup between Cleveland and Las Vegas.

Injury Updates

CB Dom Jones suffered a "significant knee injury" on the kickoff following Ravens K Tyler Loop's field goal to tie the game at 16 in the fourth quarter, and Stefanski said the rookie cornerback is likely heading to injured reserve. Offensive tackles Jack Conklin and Cam Robinson suffered knee injuries against Baltimore and will be day-to-day. Stefanski said he will know more about their availability statuses as the week progresses.

QB Dillon Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol after being ruled out for the second half against the Ravens. Stefanski said Gabriel was suffering concussion symptoms during halftime and went to the trainers to address them.

"We'll work through (the plan) the next couple days and this week, obviously," Stefanski said. "I'll update you guys on Wednesday as we get into Vegas preparations."

Offensive rotation

The Browns will potentially have to shuffle their offense due to the injuries suffered to Gabriel, Conklin and Robinson.

QB Shedeur Sanders replaced Gabriel in the second half to make his regular season debut. He completed 4 of 16 passing attempts for 47 yards and an interception. Sanders had the Browns as close as the Ravens' 25-yard line on the potential game-tying drive before Cleveland turned the ball over on downs.

"He's a competitor," WR Cedric Tillman said. "Playing with him was the first time, so that was cool, but I see him every day, see how he works and stuff like that, see how he prepares, so it was cool being out there with him."

Sanders played with T KT Leveston and G Teven Jenkins on Cleveland's final offensive drive. Leveston replaced Robinson after he was injured in the second quarter while Jenkins came on in the fourth quarter for Conklin.

The Browns have dealt with offensive line injuries at the tackle position throughout the season. T Dawand Jones suffered a knee injury in Week 3 that has forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Conklin had an elbow injury that caused him to miss Week 2 to Week 4.

Cleveland started T Cornelius Lucas at left tackle in Week 2 and 4 and at right tackle in Week 3. While Conklin was in the concussion protocol in Week 7, Lucas took over his spot at right tackle again. The Browns traded for both Leveston and Robinson to help shore up the offensive line depth. Both have started games, including Leveston starting Week 4 and 5 at left tackle before Robinson has started the last five games at the position. Jenkins has not started a game this season but has appeared in all 10 games. Stefanski noted that he trusts Leveston and Jenkins if they do have to step in against Las Vegas.

"We have options. We have to work through all those things this week," Stefanski said. "Obviously, the availability of Jack and Cam will determine that, but KT went in there when we had an injury yesterday. Teven went in there when we had an injury yesterday. So those are certainly options if that's the case."

Browse action photos from the Browns' 2025 Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens, featuring top plays and moments.

Defensive front producing pressure

Cleveland's defensive line has anchored a defense that allows the second-fewest total yards per game in the NFL and is tied for fourth with 32 sacks.

The trend continued as the Browns' defensive line accounted for eight of the 10 tackles for loss and all five sacks against the Ravens. DE Myles Garrett built upon his stellar season with five tackles for loss and four sacks, notching 10 sacks in the last three games. DT Mike Hall Jr. recorded his second sack of the season with his fourth quarter sack of QB Lamar Jackson. Defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Mason Graham both had two tackles in the game, each registering a tackle for a loss.

The pressure from the trenches also helped the seven players behind them, especially the linebackers. Jackson was pressured by the defensive line and had to make quick, short throws on both of his interceptions. Both throws were deflected up by Baltimore players and linebackers Carson Schwesinger and Devin Bush intercepted them. Schwesinger also recorded two tackles for loss, continuing his strong rookie season.

"It starts up front. It always has and always will, no matter what type of system or what type of level of football you're playing," Bush said. "Those guys complement (Myles Garrett) well and he compliments them well. I think as you see as each week goes on, it's harder and harder to deal with just Myles himself when you have Maliek (Collins) rushing like that. You have Mason (Graham) coming from the three-technique and the two-I. You even have Shelby Harris, making noise, batting balls down. You have Isaiah (McGuire) and Alex (Wright) when they get their chance to throw their best fastball. So, I think our front works well together."

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