Two-time cornerback Joe Haden is among the Browns players who'll be inactive against the Miami Dolphins beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Haden suffered a groin injury in Thursday's practice and was listed as questionable for the game. He traveled to Miami with the Browns and jogged and stretched on the field about three hours before kickoff.
Veteran Tramon Williams will start in place of Haden opposite Jamar Taylor. Undrafted rookie Tracy Howard will likely serve as the No. 3 cornerback for the Browns.
Losing Haden is a significant blow for the injury-riddled Browns.
He missed 11 games last season because of two concussions and other injuries, but he had rebounded with strong performances early this season.
He’s ranked as the second-best cornerback in the NFL through two games by ProFootballFocus.com. Only Washington’s Josh Norman is rated higher.
The website also gave Haden the highest grade of any Browns defender last week in a 25-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He tied a career high with two interceptions and had two other passes defensed. His 18 interceptions tied Earl Little for the most by a Browns player during the expansion era.
The following players will also be inactive for the Browns: quarterback Josh McCown (fractured collarbone), rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman (broken right hand in a cast), safety Ibraheim Campbell (hamstring), center Cameron Erving (bruised lung), rookie defensive end Carl Nassib (recent surgery on broken hand) and rookie offensive lineman Shon Coleman.
All of the players except for Haden and Shon Coleman were ruled out last week.
Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler will start in place of McCown, wide receiver Andrew Hawkins will start in place of Corey Coleman and safety Derrick Kindred will start in place of Campbell. John Greco will move from right guard to start at center in place of Erving, and Alvin Bailey will fill in at right guard.
The following Dolphins players will be inactive: wide receiver Justin Hunter, cornerback Jordan Lucas, running back Arian Foster (groin), linebacker Spencer Paysinger (neck), center Mike Pouncey (hip), guard Dallas Thomas and defensive end Terrence Fede.