Cleveland Browns player Greedy Williams Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Browns CB Greedy Williams heads to IR with shoulder injury

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/12/20

The Cleveland Browns improved to 4-1 on Sunday with a 32-23 home win over the Indianapolis Colts without cornerback and fan favorite Greedy Williams, who hasn't yet played this season because of a lingering nerve injury in his shoulder.

Cleveland confirmed on Monday that Williams won't play for at least another three games.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Williams is headed to the injured reserve list due to the shoulder issue. Because he doesn't require surgery to fix the problem, Williams could take the field again at some point before January.

CB Greedy Williams is headed to IR, Kevin Stefanski says. He has a nerve injury in his shoulder. No surgery required and can potentially return this season.
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) October 12, 2020

A rule for the 2020 season held amid the coronavirus pandemic requires that a player on IR misses a minimum of three games. Williams won't be eligible to play until the Browns face the Houston Texans on Nov. 15.

As Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report pointed out, Williams is no stranger to this particular setback.

I don't know if this is necessarily related, but a similar issue is part of the reason why Greedy Williams fell in his draft class. It didn't come out publicly, but there were rumblings whether the shoulder would hold up. https://t.co/A9SaVGx2re
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) October 12, 2020

Cleveland selected Williams, 22, in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He tallied 47 tackles in 12 appearances during his rookie year. Without Williams, the Browns have surrendered 296.4 passing yards over five contests and four victories. Only the Atlanta Falcons (335.8) and Seattle Seahawks (370.4) are allowing more yards in the air as of the middle of October.

Cleveland enters midweek preparations for a showdown with the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers with a walking-wounded roster. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is carrying a rib injury he suffered in the win over the Colts but isn't expected to miss Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.