It seems unbelievable, but we’re already in week 7 of the 2021 regular season.
Although, it hasn’t gone as expected for the Cleveland Browns thus far.
Through seven games, the Browns currently sit at 4-3, which is below expectations.
There are a handful of factors as to why the Browns aren’t playing up to standards.
However, a big reason why is the poor play by some star players.
1. Odell Beckham Jr.
At some point, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. needs to be held accountable for his poor play.
Last season, OBJ got a pass because he suffered a season-ending ACL tear mid-season.
However, he mentioned multiple times in the offseason that he was back to full health and ready to make an impact in 2021.
Well, Browns fans are still waiting for OBJ to show up and make that splash he was talking about.
Through five games, Beckham has 16 receptions, 226 yards, and has zero touchdowns.
The three-time Pro Bowl wideout is held to higher standards due to his superstar abilities.
Although, OBJ continues to come up at the bottom of the stat sheet seemingly every week.
The talent is obviously there, but Beckham needs to step up and play up to his standards.
Keenum ➡️ @obj #ThursdayNightFootball #nfl pic.twitter.com/zQze0qEuRl
— Sweet Flow (@SweetFlow18) October 22, 2021
The 28-year-old is into his third year in Cleveland and is still playing below average.
His performance needs to change quickly or OBJ could be a name in trade rumors soon.
The Browns cannot continue to have their No. 1 receiver playing like a backup.
2. Denzel Ward
The Browns were hopeful that defensive back Denzel Ward could be a superstar when they drafted him in the first round in 2018.
To be fair, Ward has played well during his first three seasons in Cleveland.
He has been selected to one Pro Bowl and has seven interceptions and 43 passes defended along the way.
Although, the 24-year-old hasn’t quite been the same in 2021.
Through seven games, Ward has 24 tackles, three passes defended, and zero interceptions.
This is not to say that Ward has been bad, but his play hasn’t been what is expected from a No. 1 defensive back.
It’s also worth noting that Ward has dealt with injuries during every season he has been in the league.
Possibly, the injuries have taken a toll on him or he is not playing as aggressively to try and avoid injury.
Regardless, this is quite concerning for a Browns secondary that cannot seemingly stop anyone.
Hopefully, Ward will turn it around in the second half of the season.
3. Rashard Higgins
Remember Rashard Higgins? Just wanted to refresh your memory since we haven’t seen much of him this season.
The 27-year-old had a breakout campaign with the Browns last season, but has been nowhere near as efficient in 2021.
Through seven games, Higgins has 12 receptions, 141 yards, and one touchdown with Cleveland.
That is a significant drop from what he was doing with the Browns a year ago.
https://twitter.com/chadp71/status/1366931738572828680
Possibly, the return of OBJ has hindered Higgins’ target share.
However, Beckham hasn’t been playing well and rookie Anthony Schwartz isn’t taking away many touches either.
The Browns also were without Jarvis Landry for a few weeks, but that hasn’t seemed to matter.
This season, Higgins has two games where he has finished with three receptions or more in a game.
A contributing factor could be the below-average play at the quarterback position.
Regardless, the Browns expected more out of Higgins after what they saw last season.
This is certainly frustrating, but the Browns still have time to pick up their performance before it’s too late.
NEXT: Which Browns QB Should Start Against The Steelers?
