Cleveland Browns news and notes, Week 14: Denzel Ward, Marquise Goodwin back at practice

BEREA — Wednesday's practice participants for the Browns could be the sign of good things to come.

Two Browns players who have missed multiple weeks — cornerback Denzel Ward and receiver Marquise Goodwin — were back on the practice field in a limited capacity. It's the first step for both to potentially be back in the lineup for Sunday's key AFC home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ward, who has been playing at an All-Pro level this season, has been sidelined since sustaining a shoulder injury in a Week 11 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed both losses during the Browns' western swing through Denver and Los Angeles.

"He makes a huge impact on our football team," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "So get him back out at practice today, see how he does."

Goodwin has been out since sustaining a concussion in a Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He is still in the concussion protocol, but has progressed to the point that he can practice.

If Goodwin returns, he could provide another possible target in the vertical passing game. That was the initial plan for the veteran receiver when the Browns signed him in the spring.

"I don't know that he's all the way through, but he's trending that way and will practice today," Stefanski said. "And again, with all these guys, whether it's concussion or otherwise, you really have to get them out on the practice field, see how they look, and then make a decision."

Goodwin was one of two Browns players who practiced despite still being in the protocol. The other was quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has been sidelined since leaving the Denver game.

Receiver Amari Cooper was also in the protocol, having sustained a concussion in the second quarter of last Sunday's loss to the Rams. He did not practice Wednesday, along with safety Juan Thornhill (calf), running back Kareem Hunt (groin) and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr. (groin).

Left guard Joel Bitonio, defensive end Myles Garrett and tight end David Njoku all had their typical rest days.

Myles Garrett, Dustin Hopkins leading AFC Pro Bowl vote-getters at positions

Two Browns players are the top vote-getters at their respective positions among AFC players in the Pro Bowl voting as the NFL released the initial voting. Myles Garrett was tops among all AFC defensive ends, and Dustin Hopkins was tops among AFC kickers.

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (59,680) was the leading vote-getter among all players. Houston rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud (44,095 votes) ranks second overall, while San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey (43,331), Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill (39,928) and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce (38,720) round out the top five.

Fans can vote as often as they would like to send the league's best players at each position to Orlando for the Pro Bowl Games until Christmas Day across a variety of platforms, including:

• ProBowl.com/Vote

• On club sites (i.e., https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/pro-bowl-games/vote)

• Social voting: During the final two weeks of voting (Dec. 11 – Dec. 25), fans can vote directly on “X" (formerly Twitter) by tweeting the first and last name of the player, tagging the player's official Twitter handle or creating a hashtag including the player's first and last name. All three of these methods must include the hashtag: #ProBowlVote. During the final two days (Dec. 24 – Dec. 25), social votes will count as double.

Player selections will be determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group's vote counting as one-third toward determining the all-star players who will be selected to this year's Pro Bowl Games. The Games will be a multi-day event on Feb. 1 and 4 in Orlando, Fla.

Anthony Walker Jr. appreciative of support shown by teammates through awards

Anthony Walker Jr. was honored twice Tuesday. He was named the Browns' nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, then received the team's Ed Block Courage Award.

“It's like you said, just deeper than football," Walker said. "The legacy that you leave in the community that you played in. Obviously, back home where you're from. I really try to touch those areas really hard. My dad really was big on education. So I've always been big on youth education and how can I help my community in that way. … So obviously, I want to keep doing that, keep leaving my legacy in that way.

"Obviously, you want to win, you want to do good things on the field as well, but off the field is that lasting legacy that you want to leave.”

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award recognizes NFL players who excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game in their communities. Walker has been extremely active in various educational-based programs, both in Northeast Ohio and in his South Florida home.

The Ed Block Courage Award is given annually to a member of each of the 32 teams who best exemplifies the qualities of Ed Block — the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts — based on courage, compassion, commitment and community. Walker came back from a torn quad tendon he suffered during Week 3 of the 2022 season.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns news and notes, Week 14: Live updates