Injury reports only tell part of the story. A “questionable” tag or a vague body part listed on a Friday leaves out what players actually deal with in the hours before kickoff. Some of the toughest performances of a season happen without anyone outside the building knowing what it took to get on the field. That was the case for one Browns cornerback on Sunday.
Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com shared Denzel Ward’s comments after the 27-24 win over the Tennessee Titans. Ward admitted that he dislocated his finger and had to get 5 stitches before the game on Sunday.
“Definitely wasn’t expecting to get an interception this week. I had dislocated my finger and had to get 5 stitches before the game. That was mainly why I was upset, because I was wondering how I was going to catch the ball. That’s been my whole goal this season; I’m just trying to intercept the ball,” Ward said.
#Browns Denzel Ward talking about dislocating his finger and needing stitches in his hand before this game: pic.twitter.com/ATS2DdyOTx
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) October 25, 2026
Ward’s availability was in doubt all weekend. He was added to the injury report late in the week with a hand injury, listed as questionable, and early reports on Sunday morning said he would test it during warmups before a decision was made.
Hearing what he was actually dealing with makes his day more impressive. A dislocated finger and fresh stitches would make most players worry about simply getting through the game, let alone holding on to the football. Ward intercepted Cam Ward anyway.
It was his 2nd interception in 4 games, after he picked off Aaron Rodgers in the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. His comment about trying to intercept the ball shows he expects more from himself than strong coverage, even though his coverage has been among the best in the league.
Ward’s ability to play through pain matters because of how this defense works. Mike Rutenberg uses man coverage more than any team in the league, and that only works with a top cornerback who can be trusted on an island. Without him, the Browns would have had to change their entire approach against Tennessee.
His toughness fits the identity of this team. Carson Schwesinger played through an ankle injury against the Baltimore Ravens, and Ward did the same with his hand on Sunday. Todd Monken has called this a scrappy group, and his veterans keep proving him right.
The next test comes in Pittsburgh, with both teams 5-2 and 1st place on the line. Ward will see Rodgers again, and if his hand keeps improving, the Browns will have their best cornerback ready for one of the biggest games of the season.
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