The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, both 5-2, will face off in a crucial Week 8 matchup with first place in the AFC North at stake. The Browns won the previous meeting in Week 4, but the Steelers have since won three consecutive games. Key players highlighted include Steelers' Aaron Rodgers, Jaylen Warren, and DK Metcalf, and Browns' Deshaun Watson, Denzel Boston, and KC Concepcion
The Cleveland Browns improved to 5-2 by defeating the Tennessee Titans 27-24 on a last-second field goal by Andre Szmyt. Deshaun Watson led the Browns offense, which gained a season-high 491 yards. Watson threw for 308 yards and a touchdown, also adding a rushing touchdown. KC Concepcion had a career-high 129 receiving yards, and Quinshon Judkins scored two rushing touchdowns
Browns rookie KC Concepcion Jr. had a breakout Week 7 performance, catching 8 passes for 129 yards and leading the team in receiving against the Titans
KC Concepcion Jr. had a breakout game, catching 8 of 10 targets for 129 yards and adding 23 rushing yards, making him a legitimate WR3/flex consideration for Week 8
Cleveland's offense had really struggled in recent years under head coach Kevin Stefanski. The quarterback play was inconsistent to bad, and a once dominant offensive line had deteriorated. As a result, the franchise elected to change leadership, leading to the hiring of head coach Todd Monken. The Browns are averaging 17.7 points per game this season; they averaged 14.8 points per game or less over the last two seasons. What has been the catalyst for that change? Well, they may have a few 2026 NFL Draft selections to thank. General manager Andrew Berry opened draft night knowing that the left tackle and wide receiver positions must be addressed. They had been considering both Texas A&M's K.C. Concepcion (Round 1, No. 24 overall) and Washington's Denzel Boston (Round 2, No. 39 overall) with their second selection in the first round. They did not anticipate Boston being available at No. 39 overall and saw it as an opportunity they could not pass up. At times, quarterback Deshaun Watson has been on different pages from his rookie receivers. Concepcion has been led into some dangerous hits, and Boston has been forced to make contested catches rather than the ball being on him as he comes out of his break. The former's role had primarily been limited to the short and intermediate segments of the field. Among receivers with at least 15 receptions, his 6.60 air yards per target is the 10th-lowest in the league. Concepcion is elusive with the ball in his hands and has dispelled pre-draft concerns regarding drops — he has zero on the season. Accuracy and anticipation from a quarterback are incredibly important for a receiver like Concepcion because his greatest impact is felt post-catch. Watson has been off-target on 12.1% of his throws, according to TruMedia, which is worse than the average quarterback. Concepcion has been productive as a rookie, but the stat line could be even better. His potential is that of a high-level No. 2 in the league. Boston is an entirely different type of receiver. He has a big frame with a physical play style, a combination that has been thriving in the NFL recently. While Concepcion ranks low in air yards per target, Boston is first (16.45) among receivers with at least 15 receptions. He shows nuance getting out of his breaks but also has the size and aggressiveness to play above the rim. Although he has been credited with zero drops, a few downfield attempts have gone off his fingertips. Better rhythm with Watson would lead to increased production for Boston. Additionally, Cleveland drafted left tackle Spencer Fano (No. 9 overall). They were originally positioned to pick No. 6 overall, but traded down with Kansas City in exchange for third and fifth-round choices. LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane was picked by the Chiefs, then Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson were taken before Fano. Fano started at left tackle for Utah, then moved to the right side when Caleb Lomu joined the fray. He has transitioned back to left tackle for the Browns with mixed results. A smart player who communicates and picks up exchanges well, Fano has good foot mobility, but undersets at times, and he got walked back a bit against the Panthers and Jaguars . Most of his issues are correctable, and he has been an above-average left tackle for the franchise thus far. TruMedia credits him with eight pressures and one sack allowed on 353 pass blocking snaps through six games. When the team traded veteran Amari Cooper , it left the organization grasping at straws. They had already acquired Jerry Jeudy , but Jeudy was never meant to be the primary outlet. It is clear that Boston and Concepcion will be the team's top two targets moving forward, which has made Jeudy expendable at the trade deadline — a development few could have seen coming in April. Boston could be one of the top-15 wide receivers in the league. Concepcion has the potential to be a high-level No. 2 in the league. Ber
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. (calf/quadriceps) is worth adding in 10-team and deeper PPR leagues, though his modest yardage totals make him more appealing as bench depth or a deeper-league flex than a dependable starter. He enters Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Tennessee Titans without an injury designation after practicing fully Friday, and Tennessee has allowed 83 receptions and 1,052 receiving yards to opposing wideouts through six games, a favorable Week 7 matchup. The rookie led Cleveland with six targets against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, catching four passes for 37 yards while adding two carries for two yards. Concepcion has drawn at least five targets in every game he has finished this season, his only interruption a concussion that forced him out early against the New York Jets in Week 5. That involvement has produced just 22 receptions for 186 yards and no touchdowns through six appearances, reflecting his limited production on shorter routes
Concepcion (calf/quadriceps) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Titans, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports. Neither does fellow Browns wideout Denzel Boston, who has been limited in practice with a foot injury. There's been no indication that either WR was ever in serious danger of missing Sunday's game, so normal workloads can be expected unless there's an in-game setback
The Browns had a pair of linebackers moving in different directions on Thursday’s injury report. Carson Schwesinger was back at practice as a limited participant after missing Wednesday’s workout with an ankle injury. Quincy Williams was not on Wednesday’s report, but he missed practice on Thursday with a neck injury. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (foot) went from limited to full participation while safety Grant Delpit (concussion, shoulder) and center Elgton Jenkins (knee) joined Schwesinger in going from out of practice to limited participation. Defensive lineman Kalia Davis (quad), defensive lineman Mike Hall Jr. (knee), and guard Teven Jenkins (back) missed practice for the second straight day. Defensive end Derek Barnett (ankle), wide receiver Denzel Boston (foot), wide receiver KC Concepcion (calf, quad), defensive tackle Mason Graham (knee, ankle), right tackle Tytus Howard (knee), running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle), and running back Dylan Sampson (knee) were all listed as limited participants
Concepcion (calf/quadriceps) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. Concepcion and Denzel Boston (foot) have now been limited in both of the Browns' first two Week 7 practices, so the two rookie wideouts may need to upgrade to full participation Friday to avoid taking injury designations into Sunday's game against the Titans. After sustaining a concussion in the Browns' Week 5 loss to the Jets, Concepcion was able to clear the five-step protocol prior to last week's game against the Ravens and went on to finish with four catches for 37 yards on six targets while adding two yards on two carries in a 13-10 win
Concepcion (calf, quad) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. The rookie is starting the week with a limited practice due to calf and quad issues. That he was able to participate is a good sign, however, even if Concepcion wasn't a full-go. Concepcion's status for Sunday's game against the Titans will become more clear with Friday's injury report