Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper aggravated his groin during Saturday’s practice and is questionable to play in Monday’s game against the host Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Aggravated his groin,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We brought him inside. We’ll evaluate him over the next 48 hours.”
Safety Juan Thornhill (calf) and rookie defensive tackle Siaki Ika (foot) also are questionable to play versus Pittsburgh.
As for the Steelers, wide receiver Diontae Johnson (hamstring) and running back Anthony McFarland Jr. (knee) did not participate in practice for the third straight day on Saturday and were ruled out against the Browns.
Cooper, 29, recorded three catches for 37 yards in Cleveland’s 24-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Cooper caught 78 passes for 1,160 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 17 starts during his first season with the Browns in 2022.
Cooper has 598 receptions for 8,273 yards and 55 touchdowns in 126 games (119 starts) with the then-Oakland Raiders (2015-18), Dallas Cowboys (2018-21) and Browns.
Johnson, the top option for quarterback Kenny Pickett, suffered his injury in the second half of Pittsburgh’s 30-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. He had three catches for 48 yards.
The 27-year-old Johnson, in his fifth season with the Steelers, was a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 after making 107 receptions for 1,161 yards with eight touchdowns in 16 games (14 starts). Last season, he started all 17 games and caught 86 passes for 882 yards but didn’t score.
He has 3,694 yards and 20 touchdowns in 65 career games (57 starts).
George Pickens, Calvin Austin and Allen Robinson likely will be the primary receivers in Johnson’s absence.
McFarland, 24, had two catches for 11 yards in the season opener.
–Field Level Media
