T.J. Ward injury: Browns safety struggles playing with cast against Giants

The Cleveland Browns didn't have much go right against the New York Giants in Week 5. Their offense wasn't able to keep up, but the big mistakes came on defense, where injuries and general poor form caused missed tackle after missed tackle. One such player suffering from an injury was safety T.J. Ward, who played the game with a cast on his right hand during the game.

He found it very hard to make tackles in general on the day, according to Ohio.com:

"I couldn't grab anything," Ward said. "It was uncomfortable. I should have made the tackles that I missed. One time I didn't even try. It was so late in the game I just went for the strip."

Players will often elect to play with a cast on their hand, and generally, they're pretty effective. Some prefer to utilize the cast as something of a club to jar the football loose, but Ward definitely struggled on the day. Fellow safety Usama Young was also one culprit when it came to missed tackles. Everything went south when starting middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was sidelined with a concussion in the second quarter.

Ward will still likely have the cast on for some time, but seeing as how it was just difficult and not overly painful, it's likely he'll remain on the field if he's wearing it come gameday next time out.

T.J. Ward injury update: Browns safety says he will play vs. Giants

Browns safety T.J. Ward isn't going to let a small thing like a broken thumb keep him from playing Oct. 7 against the Giants.

Or a plate protecting nine screws inserted into the bone.

Ward said he broke his right thumb on Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith as he tackled him in the first quarter of Baltimore's eventual 23-16 victory in Week 4 Sept. 27. Ward played the rest of the game, and with the 10-day layoff between games, feels confident he can still make an impact as the Browns seek their first win of the season.

Ward had surgery soon after the Thursday night game, and will play in the absence of Tashaun Gipson, who has been ruled out with a knee injury.

He insists nothing about his game will change.

"You just don't think about it," he told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Mary-Kay Cabot. "You just have to play normal. It's a thumb. It's not like my whole arm is gone. I'm going to play like I normally do. It'll be casted. It is what it is."

T.J. Ward injury: Browns safety returns to practice wearing cast

Cleveland Brown safety T.J. Ward was back at practice on Thursday wearing a cast on his thumb, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal's Nate Ulrich. Ward underwent surgery on his right thumb this past weekend after injuring it against the Baltimore Ravens, and could be back in time for the Browns' game against the Giants on Sunday. The Browns' coaching staff is hopeful Ward can bolster their vulnerable secondary against a good Giants offense:

"Hopefully T.J. will be OK," defensive coordinator Dick Jauron said today. "He’s playing really well. I think he understands our scheme better. He really wants to do it right. He’s working at it hard. He’s done a nice job."

If Ward can't play on Sunday, Ray Ventrone will get another start in his place. Ventrone, oddly enough, suffered the same injury as Ward during Week 1. He missed a game, but has played ever since with a similar cast on his hand.

Usama Young, T.J. Ward banged-up at safety, providing chance for Eric Hagg

The Cleveland Browns are dealing with multiple injuries at the safety position heading into Sunday's game with the New York Giants.

Starting strong safety T.J. Ward is day-to-day after undergoing surgery on his right thumb, but he isn't the only safety dealing with an injury. Starting free safety Usama Young injured his knee in the Browns' Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens but was able to practice on Monday. In addition, Tashaun Gipson, who had been splitting time with Young, injured his knee against the Ravens and was unable to practice on Monday.

With the various injuries, the Browns may turn back to Eric Hagg, who started the first two games of the season at free safety but was inactive for Cleveland's last two games. Backup safety Ray Ventrone underwent surgery on a broken hand earlier this season but played the last two games with his hand in a cast and may also be called upon to contribute.

T.J. Ward injury update: Browns safety has surgery on thumb, day-to-day for Giants game

Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward underwent surgery on his right thumb and is listed as day-to-day for Cleveland's upcoming matchup with the New York Giants on Oct. 7, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.

Ward injured his thumb in Thursday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He had a plate and six screws surgically inserted into the thumb, the same procedure that fellow Cleveland safety Ray Ventrone underwent after sustaining a hand injury on Sept. 9. When asked about Ward's status moving forward, head coach Pat Shurmur pointed to Ventrone as a reason for optimism.

Shurmur said "we might have to do more evaluation" on Ward's thumb. When asked if Ward could play with the injury, Shurmur said, "Sure. Ray Ventrone is doing it."

Ventrone missed the Brown's Week Two matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals following his injury, but he has been active in Cleveland's last two games. He wears a cast on his left hand to protect the surgically repaired injury.

T.J. Ward Injury: Browns safety spotted in cast after loss to Ravens

Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward was spotted wearing a cast after the team's 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Thursday night.