After a promising 2-1 start to the season, the Cleveland Browns have been mired in a major rut as of late. The Browns have lost three straight and five of their past six to fall to 3-6 on the season heading into their Week 1 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns have been particularly woeful offensively, having scored just 57 points during the past four weeks, and only once this season have they scored more than 17 points.
In Sunday's home game against the Jaguars, the Browns might be without several key offensive players. On Thursday, RB Montario Hardesty ran outside while the rest of the Browns team worked indoors. Hardesty has been nursing a calf injury that's kept him out of the lineup the past two weeks. He's listed as questionable for Week 11, but is a safe bet to play provided he doesn't experience any setbacks Friday.
WR Mohamed Massaquoi is also expected to play Sunday after missing Week 10 with a recurrence of concussion like symptoms originally sustained in Week 7. Massaquoi was limited in practice Thursday for the second day in a row, as coaches and doctors on the Browns' staff cautiously work him back into the fold.
Along the offensive line, Tony Pashos took snaps with the first team offense at right tackle on Thursday. Artis Hicks had assumed those duties during Wednesday's practice. Pashos has a sore ankle that has not prevented him from starting or playing recently, but he was extremely limited on Wednesday to start the week.
On defense, DL Jayme Mitchell missed Thursday's practice for non-injury related reasons. Coach Pat Shurmur noted before practice that Mitchell would be ready to play Sunday. His absence was due to personal reasons according to a statement issued by a team spokesman.
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