Coach Eric Mangini offers few details on what's ailing the quarterback, but says McCoy is expected to return to practice on Thursday
View full sizeRookie QB Colt McCoy missed Wednesday's practice with an illness but is expected to practice Thursday. BEREA, Ohio — Whatever is ailing Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, he better get over it by the time the Ravens' attack-minded defense shows up Sunday.
McCoy was a surprise scratch from practice Wednesday when he arrived in the morning not feeling well. He was at the Berea facility during practice, but not outside with the team.
McCoy is expected back on the field today, coach Eric Mangini said through a Browns spokesman. Mangini was unable to provide details himself because he didn't know at the start of his morning news conference that McCoy was ill.
The Browns declined to specify the nature of McCoy's illness, saying only that he was sick.
On Sunday against the Bengals, McCoy completed 19 of 25 attempts for 243 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a stellar 132.6 passer rating. The 76 percent completion rate and rating were both the second-highest ever by a Browns rookie. He now has a 100-plus rating in two of his six starts.
"I've been encouraged by what Colt's done and get another chance to see what he can do here this weekend against an elite defense and the following week against an elite defense [Pittsburgh's]," Mangini said. "The most important thing for him is just worry about the next practice . . . and get to the game. That's been my experience with those guys is that they've got tremendous focus on the task at hand and they continue to improve."
Mangini stressed that the Ravens' 10th-ranked defense will be a tremendous test for McCoy, especially with safety Ed Reed back in the lineup. He missed the first meeting in September with an injury.
View full sizeBrowns running back Peyton Hillis says the team needs to work harder to maintain its intensity throughout games."Those veteran defensive guys are savvy. This isn't like trying to look off a bunch of young guys. They've seen a lot of things and they do a good job with disguising coverages and they bring a lot of different pressure looks. It's great, it's a great test."
Moore on IR: Second-year tight end Evan Moore was placed on injured reserve (hip) and will miss the final two games. Moore sat out the past two games with the injury, which he aggravated Dec. 5 in Miami. Moore had 16 catches for 322 yards with one touchdown this season.
Injuries: The following Browns besides McCoy and running back Peyton Hillis (knee) were idle: Linebacker Eric Alexander (groin), Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip), Robert Royal (shoulder).
Lewis vows to stop Hillis: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said Hillis won't have 100 yards against the Ravens this time. In the first meeting, Hillis ran for 144 yards and a touchdown.
"It won't happen again," Lewis told Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times. "I hope they understand that. We're not coming in there to overlook them or nothing and we definitely aren't coming in there to give him over 100 yards again. So hopefully they can buckle up all their chin straps and do whatever you need to do, but we're definitely coming in to play a very physical football game."
Hillis on complacency: Hillis expounded on his comments after the Bengals game that the Browns are on and off through the course of a game and sometimes seem to lack motivation.
"As a team, we need to pick it up a notch," he said. "We've got to know where we stand and what we need to do to win. All year we've been at that point where we do really good but we slack back down. We just have to get to a point where we're consistent with our play."
He said it's evident to him not just on the field but on the sidelines.
"You notice it sometimes, I even notice it in myself at times," he said. "But you've got to change that. You can't allow yourself to be complacent with your status on the field or off. You've got to go out there and want to play and win."
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