HOUSTON — The Browns will have the full interior of their offensive line back on Sunday when they face the Texans. Left guard Joel Bitonio, who was questionable with a back injury, is active and will play Sunday at NRG Stadium.
Safety Juan Thornhill (calf), linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (knee), cornerback Kahlef Hailassie, linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (calf), defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (pec), center Luke Wypler and defensive end Isaiah McGuire are inactive for the Browns.
Bitonio took a knee with 6:03 remaining in the first quarter last week against the Bears prior to a run play. He said this week he was going to pull on the play and his back wouldn’t even allow him to get in his stance.
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“It kind of just popped up Sunday, honestly,” Bitonio said on Thursday. “So that’s one of those ones that you try and play through an ankle or a shoulder or knee, but when you can’t really get in your stance, it’s hard to go out there and go out there and play.”
Walker underwent a knee scope on Thursday and is week-to-week. He injured the knee in practice prior to the Browns’ win over the Bears and will miss is second consecutive week. He also missed the Denver game with a hamstring.
Thornhill re-aggravated the calf injury that kept him out of the season opener during pregame warmups against Jacksonville and will miss his third consecutive game.
Bitonio will be rejoined on the line by center Ethan Pocic, who left the Jacksonville game with a stinger and didn’t play last week against Chicago. Right guard Wyatt Teller was the last original starter standing for much of the Bears game — tackles Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills are all out for the season — but having all three interior starters back should help boost a struggling rushing attack.
