BEREA ― Denzel Boston was in a walking boot as he left the Browns‘ locker room Nov. 13. Ronnie Hickman was never in the locker room because of his status in the concussion protocol.
Boston is questionable for the Browns’ Nov. 15 home game against the Houston Texans due to the toe injury. Hickman has already been ruled out, along with fullback Michael Burton (calf).
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Veteran Jerry Jeudy would be the likely beneficiary if Boston’s either limited or unable to go. However, it would be rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren who would fill Hickman’s spot.
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For Jeudy, the seventh-year pro, moments like these aren’t new. For McNeil-Warren, though, this marks a major opportunity in the second-round pick’s progress.
“It feel good just to hear your name called,” McNeil-Warren said Nov. 13, “just be ready to step up when one of your teammates down. Go out there, execute, play good, try to get them in for the team.”
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The former University of Toledo product has played in each of the Browns’ first nine games, playing in a combined 246 snaps, accounting for 41% of the Browns’ defensive snap totals. He’s even posted three starts when the Browns have come out in three-safety looks.
However, with Hickman out, McNeil-Warren finds the additional responsibilties that come with the starting free safety spot.
“E-Man, time to shine, man,” safety Grant Delpit said. “We’ve been waiting for it. Listen, he has all the tools, great week of practice. He’s around the ball a lot, so I’m really excited for him to basically not come off the field and show what he could do. Of course, we’re going to miss Rocket’s communication. He gets everybody lined up. He’s patrolling the middle of the field. So I know he’s been to E-Man’s ear this week to really try to get him going, get him a little headstart.”
Cleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, left, celebrates with safety Ronnie Hickman (33) during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1, 2026, in Cleveland.
The Texans come in with a passing offense that’s among the league’s best, ranking third at 269.4 yards per game. It’s not just quarterback C.J. Stroud, who’s fifth in passer rating (104.8), tied for second in interceptions (two), second in interception rate (0.7%), sixth in yards per attempt (8.0), sixth in touchdown rate (5.7%) and seventh in yards (2,251).
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Houston also has a deep pool of wide receivers, especially with Tank Dell back from injury. All of that puts more pressure on the Browns’ secondary to be lined up correctly each play.
That pressure falls onto McNeil-Warren’s shoulders now. He’ll have Delpit there to provide a veteran’s support, but it’s still going to be his primary responsibility.
“Just taking it day by day,” McNeil-Warren said. “Just having a preparation day by day. Just try to follow Rocket’s footsteps with communication. Make sure everybody’s straight, everybody on point so the DBs will be all together and play fast together.”
The reverse in experience will be true if Boston is unable to go. Jeudy would be the logical choice to see more time in Boston’s place as the “X” wide receiver on the outside, having played there substantially before.
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The emergence of Boston and fellow rookie KC Concepcion has b een what’s limited Jeudy over the first nine games. However, he’s still played in 61% of the Browns’ offensive snaps, and managed to come up with four of the biggest catches of the season.
“I mean, I play all three positions on the field,” Jeudy said. “None of that really bothered me. X, Z, F, Y, H, doesn’t matter.”
Jeudy’s been the catalyst for three huge scoring drives with his catches. He had two on the Browns’ Week 4 game-winning field boal drive, one on their game-winning drive in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens and a clutch 30-yard catch on their game-tying field goal drive against the New Orleans Saints last week.
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The former 2020 first-round pick of the Denver Broncos has 18 catches for 208 yards this season. He had two catches for 37 yards in the overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints last week, one of those a massive 30-yard catch right on the sideline at the Saints 40 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
“Yeah, I watched it a few times,” Jeudy said. “It was a special moment. Game on the line. Shedeur (Sanders) gave me a great pass, gave me the opportunity to make a play on it, gave our team a chance to go down there, kick a field goal, and go to overtime. It would’ve been better if we would’ve got the win with it, but as long as we had a chance to fight for that victory.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns injuries open door for Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Jerry Jeudy
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