Bowe, Gilbert join McCown on Week 10 inactives list
By Scott Sargent
A pair of familiar faces will join quarterback Josh McCown on the Cleveland Browns sidelines this week as cornerback Justin Gilbert and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe - the two players most linked to the general management tenure of Ray Farmer - are listed as inactive for Week 10 in Pittsburgh.
Gilbert, the first pick of the Browns in 2014, will be a healthy scratch despite the concussion sustained by starter Joe Haden in Week 8. Pierre Desir will start in Haden’s place across from Tramon Williams.
Bowe, the poster boy for the 2015 Browns, is also a healthy scratch despite the Browns having just one receiver over 6-feet in height (Brian Hartline). The veteran free agent signing was the focal point of a slew of questions directed at Farmer in a recent press conference as well as a report surrounding heightened discord in Berea. Bowe saw his first reception of the season a week ago and was the recipient of the Browns’ first first down of the second half, but the Browns coaching staff appears to be more satisfied with Taylor Gabriel (three drops a week ago) on the back end of the rotation.
Other inactive players for Week 10 include safety Donte Whitner (concussion), guard Joel Bitonio (ankle), and tight end E.J. Bibbs (who knows at this point).
Johnny Manziel will make his third start of the season with a win over Tennessee and a loss to Cincinnati on his 2015 resume. It had appeared that McCown would be given every attempt to play this week, but the veteran was unable to progress enough from a shoulder injury sustained in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. Whether or not the Browns play-calling this week will take Manziel’s skill set into consideration remains to be seen.
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