The Cleveland Browns will be without their starting free safety Damarious Randall for Sunday's tilt with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he isn't injured. Instead, the Browns ruled him out due to a coaching decision.
Randall was ejected from the Browns' dramatic win over the Steelers in Week 11. He hit Pittsburgh rookie wide-out Diontae Johnson haphazardly, causing bleeding from the Steelers player's ear and giving him a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet fashion.
Randall was fined $28,075 for the hit, which he is appealing.
The move to rule Randall as a healthy scratch seems to be in an effort to keep things under control in Sunday's bout. The last time the two played, an infamous brawl ensued, where benches cleared after Myles Garrett struck Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph on the head with his own helmet. The fight ensued after Randall's illegal hit.
The Browns are already without starting strong safety Morgan Burnett, who suffered a torn Achilles in the tumultuous win over the Steelers. They are already without backups Eric Murray, who they declared out, and Jermaine Whitehead, who they released after he went on a Twitter fighting spree with some fans.
Without Randall, Burnett, Murray, and Whitehead, the Browns will have three safeties on the roster in rookie Sheldrick Redwine, undrafted rookie J.T. Hassell, and Juston Burris, who is slated to start at strong safety.
The Browns may also give cornerbacks T.J. Carrie or Terrance Mitchell some snaps at either safety position, depending on sub-packages, injuries, and performances throughout the game.
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