Injuries shelve Browns’ Cribbs, Anderson

By MARY KAY CABOT

Both are expected to be back for the season opener, if not sooner.

CLEVELAND — Browns receiver Joshua Cribbs suffered a high ankle sprain Monday night against the New York Giants that could keep him out until the opener Sept. 7, a source told The Plain Dealer Tuesday, and quarterback Derek Anderson suffered a mild concussion that will keep him out for the next preseason game or two.

Cribbs underwent and X-rays and an MRI Tuesday, which revealed no fracture. He will definitely sit out Saturday’s game in Detroit and probably the final preseason game Aug. 28 at home against the Bears. Cribbs will be evaluated day-to-day for the Bears game, but starters usually play sparingly in the final tune-up anyway.

The Browns had no comment Tuesday on the five players injured in the game. They also lost Brodney Pool and Brad Cieslak to concussions and linebacker Leon Williams to a neck injury.

Anderson’s concussion is mild, but one source said it could probably even be described as slight. However, the Browns are expected to err on the side of caution and start Brady Quinn against the Lions — the dress rehearsal game in which the starters usually play about three quarters.

Another reason the Browns will be extra cautious with Anderson is the fact he also suffered a concussion in college at Oregon State. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has put a special emphasis on protecting players from brain injuries, and all are required to undergo baseline testing before the season begins.

Anderson suffered the injury in the second quarter when he was sacked for an 8-yard loss by defensive end Osi Umenyiora. Anderson’s head hit the ground hard when he was driven to the turf. He also shook his right hand after the sack, but it proved to be only a bruise.

Quinn replaced Anderson and engineered two touchdown drives, a 7-yard TD run by Syndric Steptoe after a lateral and a 44-yard TD pass to Steptoe. He completed 7-of-12 attempts for 124 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions for a 121.5 rating.

“The biggest thing [this week] is to try to get some sort of rapport, some extra work in with the wide receivers,” said Quinn after the game of a possible start. “I’ve been able to run with the ones a little bit but not as much as I’d like. So I think this next couple of practices will be big days for me to get the timing down with them.”

The game was proof positive, he said, that he really is only one play away.

“It’s a tough league,” he said. “You’ve got big, fast, defensive players who want to take your head off and when you’re at quarterback, you’ve got to prepare yourself for that.”

He said it was tough to jump in the game at a moment’s notice, but he got more comfortable as it went along. “It was a good experience for me,” he said.

“Anytime you can get in there, get some more game-time experience, things start to slow down and you see things easier. The Giants defense has a little more of a complicated scheme so it was good to get some experience against those guys.”

Cribbs will be replaced by Steptoe, who peeled off kickoff returns of 40 and 90 yards against the Giants, virtually securing a roster spot.

“Josh is a great returner,” Steptoe said after the game. “He’s a Pro Bowl-caliber returner. To step in and fill his shoes, it’s more so you step in and try to keep the team moving in the same direction that he had it going in.”