The Browns continue their homestand in Week 14 when they host the Titans on Dec. 7 at Huntington Bank Field.
Cleveland's first of two consecutive home games was impacted by a fourth down fumble and a muffed punt that resulted in 13 49ers points in a 26-8 loss. The Browns aim to start the month of December in the win column against Tennessee.
"We did too many things that make it hard to beat a good team," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "It's not about one play. There's not one play that I'm talking about. But just in general, as a team, we have to play complementary football, and that'll be our focus. That's something that we're watching the tape right now, pointing it out in ways that we could better offensively, defensively, special teams."
Here are the main pieces of news and storylines heading into Week 14's game against the Titans.
Kevin Stefanski gives injury updates
Stefanski provided updates on DT Maliek Collins, RB Dylan Sampson, T Jack Conklin and G Wyatt Teller.
Collins will miss the remainder of the season with a quad injury that will require surgery. He was in the middle of a career season when he went down during the third quarter against the 49ers in Week 13. He had set a new career-high for sacks in a season with 6.5 in Week 12 against the Raiders and was inching toward career-highs in quarterback hits and tackles for loss.
"Very disappointed for Maliek, and he's obviously been playing such good football, and he provides great leadership for this football team," Stefanski said. "So disappointed for him, but he will bounce back."
Sampson suffered a calf injury in the third quarter against San Francisco before being ruled out in the fourth quarter. Stefanski said Sampson is day to day heading into Week 14. Conklin is in the concussion protocol after being evaluated near the end of the second quarter.
Teller is considered week to week with a calf injury and will miss Week 14, Stefanski said. G Teven Jenkins will take over his duties at guard after rotating snaps at the position previously with Teller.
"I felt like it would help Wyatt (Teller) play better," Stefanski said about putting Jenkins and Teller on a rotation at guard. "I think Teven's (Jenkins) deserving of some plays and I thought both guys played really well yesterday."
Browns' defense faces Cam Ward
Cleveland's defense's first test without Collins will be against the Titans and the 2025 first overall pick QB Cam Ward. Tennessee is 1-11 this season and has not won a game since Week 5.
Opposing defenses have impacted Ward all over the field, as he has been sacked two or more times in all 12 games. He has thrown for 2,351 yards and seven touchdowns but has been intercepted six times. Ward has stayed interception-free since Week 8 but has fumbled the ball nine times, including four times in the last four weeks.
The Browns have generated takeaways as a defense, recording 15 this season. They are tied for 11th for most takeaways in the NFL with nine interceptions and six fumble recoveries. The key to beating Tennessee is for Cleveland to keep forcing turnovers, according to LB Devin Bush.
"We just have to put him in a situation to struggle some more if he wants some success," Bush said. "So as much as we can do that, the better off we'll be."
Harold Fannin Jr. experiences the highs and lows of the NFL
As TE Harold Fannin Jr. turned his head, he caught the ball and ran six yards before putting his head down at the 3-yard line to power his way into the end zone in the second quarter. The touchdown was Fannin's third of the season and put the Browns up 8-7 with a two-point conversion from RB Quinshon Judkins.
Fannin has had a productive rookie season as he leads Cleveland with 51 receptions for 505 receiving yards and has three receiving touchdowns – tied with TE David Njoku for the most receiving touchdowns on the Browns.
In the third quarter, Fannin experienced the flip side of being in the NFL. Fannin fumbled a direct snap on fourth-and-1 at the Browns' 33-yard line and failed to convert. The 49ers scored with the short field and took a 17-8 lead.
"I feel like all players go through (wanting a play back)," Fannin said. "There's going to be some highs, there's going to be some lows but just come to work, ready to work every day."
Preparing for Week 12 and Week 13 included building chemistry with QB Shedeur Sanders as the starter. Fannin has been a top option for Sanders since the rookie signal-caller entered at the beginning of the second half against the Ravens in Week 11.
Sanders and Fannin have connected eight times for 108 yards in three weeks. Sanders' first pass to Fannin was for 25 yards to get to the Ravens' side of the field in Week 11. The pass between the two rookies came with 2:31 left in the game as Sanders attempted to lead a comeback in his first regular season action. The two have spent extra time together to talk through different scenarios in order to build their chemistry.
"Obviously the practices, but I feel like I was just sitting down talking in the locker room, seeing how he wants things and seeing how I see things," Fannin said. "Trying to just meet in the middle, really."
