A slow start proved costly for the Browns, giving them ground to make up early into their Week 15 game against the Bears.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski highlighted the Browns’ 14-point first quarter deficit as a key factor in their 31-3 loss. Stefanski said that the Browns couldn’t afford to put themselves in an early hole on the road against aspiring playoff teams like Chicago.

“That ballgame is disappointing to start that way,” Stefanski said. “We have to own that and watch the tape and look at it and learn from it and find a way to correct some of those things that happened early in the game so you can be in that game and give yourself a chance to win that game.”

Here are the main pieces of news and other updates heading into Week 16.

Kevin Stefanski provides injury updates

The Browns had a list of key players inactive for the game against the Bears including starters like T Jack Conklin, G Wyatt Teller, TE David Njoku and CB Denzel Ward. Stefanski said he will have a fuller understanding of the progress of each player on Wednesday.

Conklin missed Weeks 14 and 15 while in the concussion protocol after sustaining a concussion in the second quarter of Week 13. Teller did not play in Week 14 or Week 15 while dealing with a calf injury. Njoku suffered a knee injury after a touchdown catch in Week 14, while Ward sustained a calf injury in the fourth quarter of Week 14.

G Teven Jenkins is considered day-to-day after sustaining a shoulder injury in the third quarter against the Bears.

The offensive line has dealt with multiple injuries in addition to Conklin and Teller. G Zak Zinter also missed the Bears game with a back injury. C Ethan Pocic tore his Achilles in Week 14 and T Dawand Jones was ruled out for the season after requiring surgery on a knee injury he suffered in Week 3.

For Week 16 against the Bills, Stefanski said he trusts the players the Browns put on the field, whether in veteran players like G Joel Bitonio or a young player like C Luke Wypler.

“Just the guys who are available come Sunday, we go to battle with them, and we work really hard during the week to make sure we have contingency plans and guys are ready to go, backups stay ready,” Stefanski said.