Barring any setbacks, Kellen Winslow Jr. should be back on the practice field today when the Browns begin their preparation for the game against the Redskins on Sunday.
Players were off Tuesday. Crennel said Winslow spent the day resting at home after missing the game Monday with an illness that kept him hospitalized three nights last week.
Crennel said he expects Winslow to play against the Redskins, although Winslow might be limited in practice today and Thursday.
Steve Heiden caught five passes against the Giants. When Winslow returns, though, Heiden is expected to go back to his role as a blocker.
“Heiden, ever since I’ve been here, has been a tremendous player for this team,” Crennel said. “In 2005, he caught (43) balls and when Kellen got back, he took a back seat and became a good team player. He still is a good team player, and when we go to him he usually produces.
“When we’ve got both of them, now we’ve got two guys that we can go to. That’s a good problem to have.”
Heiden caught 12 passes last year. Winslow caught 82.
Smith hurting
The Browns are likely to play a second straight game without starting right defensive end Shaun Smith.
Smith played two games with a broken left hand after suffering the injury Sept. 14 against the Steelers. It was surgically repaired Oct. 1. Louis Leonard will start if Smith cannot.
“He might not make it for the Redskins,” Crennel said. “It’s up to the doctor to make a determination after he has the surgery how much time he thinks the guy needs to be ready. The doctor doesn’t think he’s ready yet.”
Leonard did not make a tackle against the Giants. Neither did Kamerion Wimbley.
The news is better on strong safety Sean Jones. Jones plans to play against the Redskins after missing four games recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. That will enable Mike Adams to move back in the slot as the nickelback.
Hold that line
The Browns were penalized 10 times for 55 yards Monday. One was a holding call on Joe Thomas. One was illegal contact on Adams, giving the Giants a first down late in the second half.
The remaining penalties were pre-snap penalties on the offense. Eric Steinbach, Hank Fraley, Braylon Edwards and Lawrence Vickers were each flagged for one false start. Rex Hadnot was nailed twice for false starts. The Browns were penalized for an illegal shift when two men went in motion at the same time and the Browns were called for a delay of game.
Amazingly, they were penalized five times in a 14-play drive but still scored a touchdown on a 4-yard pass from Derek Anderson to Edwards.
“Committing penalties makes it hard to win,” Crennel said. “Last night, we were able to overcome some of those penalties, but I know on a consistent basis it’s not going to work that way. That’s something I can definitely use to harp to them about their focus.
“I think crowd noise impacted that. Even though we were at home, the crowd was pretty loud even when the offense was out there. I think at practice we might try to get more crowd noise.”
The Browns have committed 47 penalties through five games.
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