Burning Questions for Week 4 vs. Falcons

The Browns ruled out OT Joe Haeg (concussion) and DT Taven Bryan (hamstring) and are crossing their fingers on DE Jadeveon Clowney, who was also ruled questionable to play.

Clowney suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 and missed the Week 3 win over the Steelers. He didn’t practice this week, but the Browns not ruling him out Sunday signals he’s close to returning.

“He’s battling,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s getting rehab. He’s close.”

If Garrett and Clowney are unable to play, the Browns will lean a lot on rookie DEs Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas and six-year veteran Isaac Rochell.

Wright, a third-round rookie, has played the most among the trio this season and has flashed with two pass breakups and four tackles, although he’s still hunting for his first career sack. Rochell was moved from the practice squad to the active roster before Week 3 and has four tackles in two games. Thomas, a seventh-round draft pick, played nine snaps in Week 2 against the Jets.

To replace Bryan, the Browns will turn to DT Tommy Togiai, who has shown signs of growth in his second NFL season. A fourth-round pick from Ohio State in 2021, Togiai tallied a half-sack in Week 1 and has the trust of the coaching staff to hold down the interior in what will be his first career start.

“Tommy has done a nice job really going back to last year,” Stefanski said. “When he gets in there, he finds the ball. Plays hard. Strong football player.”

Jacob Phillips, who had two of the Browns’ biggest plays on defense to seal the Week 3 win over the Steelers, will replace Walker after he suffered a season-ending quad injury in Week 3. Phillips will be the new starting middle linebacker and serve as the green-dot player for the defense to relay play calls from defensive coordinator Joe Woods.

Phillips, a three-year veteran who has played 16 games since he was a third-round pick in 2020, is less experienced than…