CLEVELAND BROWNS White out of lineup with shoulder injury

Jamel White, the Browns' top rusher and receiver, will miss Sunday's game as probably will tight end Aaron Shea.
BEREA (AP) -- Jamel White's aching right shoulder is finally out of the sling -- and out of the lineup.
White, Cleveland's leading rusher and receiver this season, will miss Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a separated right shoulder.
Just when the Browns' banged up defense is finally getting healthy, their struggling offense -- ranked last in the league in rushing -- suffers a damaging blow.
Tight end Aaron Shea is also expected to sit out after he sprained his left ankle during practice.
It's been that kind of year for the Browns (4-5), whose playoff hopes can't absorb many more losses.
"I never missed a game with an injury," White said Wednesday. "This will be a first."
Spotlight on Green
White's absence will put the spotlight back on rookie running back William Green, the Browns' first-round draft pick whose first season has included a contract holdout, an assortment of injuries, a miserable rushing average (2.3 yards) and a season-long run of 14 yards.
Green's best moves have been the ones he has used to evade reporters the past six weeks.
White suffered the injury in the third quarter of Cleveland's Nov. 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the 5-foot-9, 208-pound performer refused to come out of the game.
"That didn't help things," said White, who has 409 rushing yards on 93 carries and two TDs. He's also got 46 catches for 278 yards. "It's much better than it was. I want to play, but it's not my call. I'm not going to do anything to hurt the team."
Medical treatment
White had hoped the Browns' off week would help his shoulder heal. Instead of going home to California last week, the third-year veteran stayed in Cleveland to receive medical treatment.
When the Browns' locker room was open for the media on Wednesday, White was still under the impression that there was a chance he would play. However, the club listed him as "out" on their initial injury of the week.
That means Green is getting another chance.
The former Boston College standout has started three games this season, but his ineffectiveness has resulted in the Browns using him in spot duty lately.
Despite Green's problems, Cleveland coach Butch Davis has remained one of his biggest supporters and said he will not shy away from playing the No. 16 overall pick.
"We're going to get him the ball a lot more, there's no question about it," Davis said. "I think William Green will start for this team in the playoffs."
Has looked tentative
Green has looked tentative at times, and completely lost at others. He's missed holes and blocks, dropped passes and showed few flashes of being worthy of being a first-round pick.
In fairness, Green has also been running behind an offensive line that has had its share of injuries.
The Browns have seen signs that Green could be ready to bust out.
"I see a lot of improvement in William," quarterback Tim Couch said. "I see him running the ball better and he's more confident and more comfortable with the offense -- especially in the third-down packages.
"In practice, he's sorting things out a lot better and he's figuring out who he should be blocking on blitzes. He's getting a lot better."
Green could have his big breakthrough this Sunday against the Bengals, who are ranked 29th in the NFL against the rush. Cincinnati is allowing 137.3 yards per game.
Cleveland is again the NFL's worst rushing team, averaging just 73 yards per game. The Browns have been last or second-to-last in the league the past four seasons.