Where Does Browns' Kevin Stefanski Stand On The Rust vs. Rest Debate?

With a playoff berth locked up, the Browns may find themselves with an opportunity to rest their starters in with no playoff seeding implications to play for in Cincinnati

It's an annual debate at this point in the NFL schedule: should teams with nothing to play for rest their starters for a meaningless game and risk rustiness heading into the playoffs? Or play them and risk injury to a key players before a postseason run?

It's a particularly curious question for the Cleveland Browns this year, who have navigated a bevy of injuries to scratch and claw their way to 11-5, earning a spot in the playoffs with 37-20 a win over the Jets on Thursday night. 

More than 10 players currently reside on Cleveland's IR entering Week 18. That list includes key starters like running back Nick Chubb, quarterback Deshaun Watson, both starting tackles and the top backup at that position. It's been an epidemic, which could leave the Browns considering resting several players in their season finale.

First and foremost, if the Ravens lose to the Dolphins this weekend this all becomes a moot point. In that scenario, Cleveland would head to Cincinnati next week with a chance to still earn the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. You'd be hard pressed to tell anyone on this resilient Browns roster they're not playing in a game that still has stakes attached to it this time of year.

The Browns would need another Baltimore loss to Pittsburgh in Week 18, combined with a win of their own over the Bengals to finish off that feat. It's to be determined if things come to that.

Alternatively, a Ravens win on Sunday would leave head coach Kevin Stefanski pondering the rest vs. rust debate himself. His stance?

"I think it's dependent on where you are and what you feel like you need for your football team," Stefanski explained Friday. "Obviously there's moving parts here going into these last ball games. So we'll see how it plays out on Sunday and then we'll make the appropriate decisions. But doesn't change the fact that you want to finish strong."

#Browns Kevin Stefanski on rest vs. rust: It's very dependent on where you are and what you feel like you need. Obviously there's moving parts here going into these last ball games. We'll see how it plays out on Sunday and make the appropriate decisions.

— 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗 (@Spencito_) December 29, 2023

In classic Stefanski fashion, he played it down the middle. Still, there's a case to be made that what this ravaged Browns roster needs is rest, and to make sure the remaining key players get to the postseason as healthy as possible.