Browns Bet Gains Steam With Lamar Jackson Ruled Out

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Lamar Jackson’s Absence Moves the Line, but Cleveland Remains the Pick

Lamar Jackson has officially been ruled out of Sunday’s 1 p.m. game in Cleveland, moving the line from 5.5 points all the way down to three. Despite the adjustment and Tyler Huntley’s win over Atlanta, Cleveland plus four remains the preferred play.

The selection is viewed as a buy-low opportunity after Cleveland looked awful last week. Huntley played well, but making him a road favorite in Cleveland still feels questionable. The Browns do not necessarily need to win the game to cover the four-point spread.

Cleveland also has the advantage of Monken’s familiarity with Huntley. As Huntley’s former offensive coordinator, Monken knows his limitations better than most. Huntley is a familiar name, but he is not viewed as one of the NFL’s better backup quarterbacks. After Baltimore found a way to win last week, the expectation is that it will not happen again.

Zay Flowers was not on the designation list, providing some good news for Baltimore. However, Jergens remains in the concussion protocol and will not play, leaving the Ravens short on the offensive line.

Several Cleveland starters practiced, including running back Quinshon Judkins. Dylan Sampson was also a limited participant, making him a player to watch this week. Cleveland thought highly of Sampson when it drafted him and used him frequently in the opening week before he was injured and placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.

Sampson is not expected to receive 20 carries, but he can be dangerous on passes out of the backfield. During camp and the preseason, short dump-offs gave him opportunities to create long gains. Judkins, meanwhile, appears more likely to remain part of a tandem than become the Browns’ sole featured back.