Browns S Juan Thornhill active, LB Anthony Walker Jr. inactive for Broncos game

DENVER - Help is on the way in the Browns’ banged-up secondary.

Safety Juan Thornhill is active for the Broncos game Sunday after missing the past two games with a calf injury suffered during the victory over the Ravens Nov. 12. His return is more than welcome considering that the Browns lost safety Rodney McLeod to a season-ending torn biceps this week, and cornerback Denzel Ward is out this game with a shoulder injury.

Both of those injuries were suffered during last week’s 13-10 victory over the Steelers, which proved costly to the Browns defense from an injury standpoint. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. is idle Sunday with his hamstring injury suffered during the second quarter of that game, but the Browns bolstered the position by activating Jordan Kunaszyk of injured reserve.

McLeod, 33, underwent successful surgery this week and will begin his rehab as soon as possible.

The Browns will certainly miss Ward, who was ruled out Friday. He won’t be out long enough to be placed on injured reserve, which requires a minimum of four games, but might not be ready for next week’s game against the Rams. The Browns are also still without rookie cornerback Cam Mitchell, who’s on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, meaning Mike Ford Jr. will serve as the third cornerback alongside Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson Jr.

Cornerback A.J. Green and safety Tanner McAlister have also been elevated from the practice squad.

The 7-3 Browns are trying to keep their three-game winning streak alive while the ending the four-game streak of the 5-5 Broncos.

The Broncos have defeated the likes of the Chiefs and Bills during their streak by taking the ball away by the boatload. They have 12 takeaways in their last three games, including five against the Chiefs, four against the Bills and three against the Vikings. They’re tied for third in the NFL with 19 takeaways, and the Browns are tied for third with 20 giveaways.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson will look for his second straight victory after pulling out the 13-10 win over the Steelers last week. After struggling for much of the game and suffering 6-8 drops, Thompson-Robinson completed the first four passes on the gamewinning field goal drive for 39 yards before stopping the clock with a spike.

He set up Dustin Hopkins with favorable field position, and he nailed the 40-yard gamewinner with two seconds remaining. Thompson-Robinson crouched to his knees and became emotional after the big victory.

Here are the Browns inactives:

#3 WR Marquise Goodwin

#5 LB Anthony Walker Jr.

#21 CB Denzel Ward

#56 C Luke Wypler

#57 DE Isaiah McGuire

#62 DT Siaki Ika

#69 T Leroy Watson IV

FLIPCARD CHANGES:

Elevated #38 CB A.J. Green III from practice squad

Elevated #48 S Tanner McAlister from practice squad

Activated #51 LB Jordan Kunaszyk from injured reserve