Denzel Ward leaves Browns locker room with taped right hand, says he is alright

Cleveland lists the cornerback questionable for Sunday.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 57m1 min read

Denzel Ward had right hand taped as he left the locker room. Said “yeah, I’m alright” #Browns Via @RuiterWrongFAN on X

What happened: Ward practiced on a limited basis Friday because of the hand issue before offering the brief reassurance ("Yeah, I'm alright") on his way out of the locker room, per @RuiterWrongFAN. The 2018 fourth-overall draft pick remains under contract with the Cleveland Browns on a settled extension.

Why it matters: Ward anchors the perimeter defense for a 4-2 Browns squad that secured the AFC's No. 4 seed with a 13-10 win on Oct. 18. Keeping the secondary cornerstone in the lineup preserves Cleveland's coverage flexibility after he expressed willingness in September to shadow top opposing receivers.

By the numbers: Cleveland holds a 4-2 record and a one-game winning streak in the 2026 regular season while averaging 3.6 yards per carry on offense. Per ESPN, Ward recorded 39 tackles and 1 interception across 15 games with the Browns in the 2025 season (as of Sept. 29, 2026).

What to watch: The Browns will release their final inactive list 90 minutes before Sunday's kickoff to confirm Ward's availability.

Sources

@RuiterWrongFAN 2026-10-23T17:54:03.607475+00:00

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