Sunday: 8:30 a.m. at Twickenham Stadium, London (Ch. 4, 100.3-FM, 1130-AM)
ABOUT THE BROWNS
• The Browns (0-7) punted twice in overtime at home vs. the Titans and lost 12-9 after Ryan Succop's 47-yard field goal for Tennessee on Sunday.
• Cleveland already has played three quarterbacks in seven games between rookie DeShone Kizer, who is expected to start Sunday vs. the Vikings, Kevin Hogan and Cody Kessler. Kizer has struggled, completing 52 percent of his passes for 965 yards (5.4-yard average), three touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
• The Browns' shoddy passing attack has produced an NFL-worst 17 interceptions, seven more than the next-worst NFL offense (Panthers, 10). Now they will be without future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas for the first time in 11 years. Thomas' season ended last week when he tore his triceps.
• Cleveland's redeeming quality so far has been its ninth-ranked defense. The Browns are anchored by stout play against the run, giving up only 3.0 yards per carry and only three runs of 20-plus yards in seven games. Defensive end and No.1 overall pick Myles Garrett has four sacks in only three games, but he was placed in the concussion protocol this week and might not play Sunday.
PLAYER SPEAK | CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
• The Browns might again be without veteran cornerback Jason McCourty, who missed the Titans game and didn't practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury. That further opens the lane for ex-Gophers defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who has played a hybrid role for the Browns secondary, bouncing between safety and cornerback, and played nearly every snap for McCourty last week.
• Boddy-Calhoun, who drew some ire for his low hit on Odell Beckham Jr. this preseason, has played the fourth-most snaps in the Browns secondary and has three pass deflections. The 5-foot-9-inch defensive back went undrafted out of Minnesota last year.
• Cleveland coach Hue Jackson on Boddy-Calhoun: "He's playing all over our defense. He's done a lot of good things playing in the nickel positions. He's played corner. He's played safety. He's a huge part because he gives us the flexibility to [change] things."
COACH SPEAK | Hue Jackson
• Jackson is in his second season as Browns coach with a 1-22 record. Prior to his stint in Cleveland, Jackson led the Raiders to an 8-8 record as coach in 2011 before being let go by newly hired Oakland General Manager Reggie McKenzie.
• Jackson and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer worked together with the Cincinnati Bengals for two seasons. Jackson served as a Bengals defensive assistant, special teams and running backs coach while Zimmer was defensive coordinator in 2012 and '13.
• On Kizer after one-game benching: "Last week I thought he started off the game really well, but wasn't able to finish it. Didn't hold it all together. Hopefully we can get him through a game where he plays well from start to finish and we're looking forward to doing that this weekend."
• On his relationship with Zimmer: "Mike is a very special coach and a very special person in my life. He taught me defensive football, had an opportunity to work for him when I came back to Cincinnati. He's as fine a coach as there is in the National Football League."
ANDREW KRAMMER