The Browns got Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney back and blew past their pitch count

CLEVELAND − The Browns had multiple key players coming back into the lineup when they took on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. None of those returnees were bigger than their two All-Pro defensive ends, Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.

Garrett and Clowney were among three starting defensive linemen who returned in the 30-28 loss to the Chargers. Taven Bryan also was back after missing last week's game in Atlanta as well.

So, outside of mike linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who is out with a season-ending injury, the Browns went into Sunday close to full strength. They suffered a significant injury in the fourth quarter when cornerback Denzel Ward left with a concussion, but the expectation is that Greedy Williams could be activated from the injured reserve list for next Sunday's game against the New England Patriots after practice this past week.

After the game, the Browns added to their defensive depth by trading for Falcons linebacker Deion Jones. Jones, who's currently on the injured list after offseason surgery on his right shoulder, should provide experienced help going forward.

For now, though, all that can be assessed is what has already happened. That's where we'll start with a look at the snap counts from the loss to the Chargers.

Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney return to Browns defense

Garrett and Clowney both said after the game they were on relative pitch counts in terms of the number of snaps they played in their return. The former was still dealing with the lingering effects of a sprained shoulder and biceps strain from his car accident, while the latter was recovering from a Sept. 18 right ankle sprain.

Garrett ended up playing the fourth-most snaps of any Browns defender at 58, which was 82% of the 71 snaps the defense was on the field. That number actually runs similar to the percentage Garrett usually is on the field, as his previous totals were 85% (45 snaps) vs. Carolina, 81% (57) vs. the Jets and 92% (54) vs. Pittsburgh.

Clowney played 52 snaps against the Chargers, which was 73%. The only full game he's played this season, at Carolina, he played 44 snaps, which was 83%.

Alex Wright, Isaac Rochell and Isaiah Thomas see snap counts drop for Browns

So where did that leave the likes of Alex Wright, Isaac Rochell and Isaiah Thomas, who had filled in for those two? Wright played 18 snaps (25%), Rochell played 19 (27%) and Thomas 1 (1%),

There were multiple times where at least three defensive ends were on the field together. Often, it would be Wright with Garrett and Clowney, although there was at least once where Wright and Rochell both were on with Garrett.

Bryan, at defensive tackle, played 35 snaps (49%). The other starter, Jordan Elliott, played 48 (68%).

Perrion Winfrey seemed to be the one who got the most work in the interior rotation. The fourth-round rookie played 34 snaps (48%), compared to 18 for Tommy Togiai.

Browns have help on the way for Jacob Phillips at linebacker

The last two weeks' worth of snap counts display exactly why general manager Andrew Berry went out and acquired Jones after the game. Jacob Phillips, once again, played every defensive snap at mike linebacker.

That 71 snaps for Phillips on Sunday, and all 126 defensive snaps from the last two weeks. That's compared to the next highest linebacker, regardless of position, which would be Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who played 53 snaps (75%).

Sione Takitaki was the only other linebacker on the field Sunday defensively. Takitaki played 46 snaps (65%).

Martin Emerson Jr. keeps climbing the Browns depth chart, A.J. Green appears

For the first time since Week 2, the entire base secondary didn't play every single snap together. Ward's injury, obviously, was a huge mitigating factor, as it limited him to 56 snaps (79%).

Greg Newsome II, who had two large tackles to force field goals, played all but one of the 71 snaps at cornerback. The safeties, Grant Delpit and John Johnson III, once again played every defensive snap.

Rookie Martin Emerson Jr. played 30 snaps (42%) against the pass-heavy Chargers, which was a substantial step back up after a dip to just 10 snaps against the Falcons the week before. Emerson made arguably the biggest defensive play of the day with his fourth-down pass breakup to give the Browns a shot at winning late.

A.J. Green got his most significant defensive action at cornerback against the Chargers. While Green's snap total was just at nine, he had played just a single defensive snap against both the Jets and Steelers, with all of his other snaps coming on special teams.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Did the Browns play Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney too much?