Rucker will be the second-team tight end behind Darnell Dinkins on the depth chart Sunday when the Browns host the Bengals. It isn't so much that Rucker has improved as it is he and Dinkins are the last tight ends standing.

Kellen Winslow Jr. will miss his third straight game with a sprained ankle. Steve Heiden suffered a major knee injury Monday night in Philadelphia. He might not be ready for the opener next year; at this point there is no way to know.

"Martin has made strides since he's been here," coach Romeo Crennel said. "He's going to get an opportunity to make more in the next couple games. He's working a lot harder. I think he recognizes more now then he did at the beginning of the year.

"He's working with his routes, his blocking and also his command of the offense. I think one of his strong suits is his ability to catch the football and so all of that was evident in practice."

The Browns gave Dallas their 2009 third-round draft choice for the Cowboys' fourth-round pick in 2008 so they could draft Rucker as insurance in case Winslow held out or was injured. Winslow was in training camp from the start, but he will miss his fifth game Sunday.

Rucker caught four passes in the preseason opener against the Jets. His knee was injured in the next practice. He needed six weeks to recover, and that put him behind in his development. He has one catch.

"I looked at the guys in front of me as two great tight ends to learn from," Rucker said. "I've been watching more film and diving into the playbook even more than I was before. Hopefully, I'll be able to pick up the slack."

Rucker said he never had knee problems in high school or college.

The news is not as encouraging for the Browns' other fourth-round choice from 2008, linebacker Beau Bell.

Bell had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday. He had surgery on his right knee in training camp. The Browns expect a full recovery.

Bell is a fourth-round draft choice from UNLV. He did not play on defense in any of the first 14 games and now he is on injured reserve.

When Bell was drafted, he was expected to make an immediate impact on special teams. But he appeared in only four games and all on special teams. He made two tackles. The highlight of his season was forcing a fumble on a kickoff in Jacksonville. Josh Cribbs recovered.

"I have to prove myself (next year) and show people I know how to play football," Bell said.

--Phil Dawson has kicked 30 field goals, a single-season franchise record. The previous record of 29 was set by Matt Stover in 1995 when the Browns finished 5-11. Dawson tied the record with three field goals against Tennessee and then broke it with one against the Eagles.

--The Browns have gone four games without an offensive touchdown. That never happened in their history before now. Their last touchdown was scored by Jerome Harrison on a 73-yard run with 14:47 to play in Buffalo on Nov. 17.

--After finishing 10-6 in 2007, the Browns are 4-10. The last time they had a collapse like this was in 1995, when they were 5-11 after finishing 11-5.

--LT Joe Thomas and NT Shaun Rogers were voted to the Pro Bowl. Thomas played in the Pro Bowl as a rookie last year. This is Rogers' first season with the Browns. He made it after the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Lions. Special teams star Josh Cribbs is a first alternate. Kicker Phil Dawson is a second alternate. Guard Eric Steinbach and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson are third alternates.

--Braylon Edwards has had three 100-yard receiving games this year. Each was in a Monday night game. He made five catches for 154 yards vs. the Giants, eight for 104 yards vs. Buffalo and five for 102 yards vs. the Eagles.

--After scoring 402 points last season, the Browns have scored 232 with the game against the Bengals Sunday and then the final game in Pittsburgh coming up.

--LB Andra Davis will likely be playing his final home game with the Browns on Sunday. His contract was restructured after 2007 to make him a free agent after this season. The Browns have given no indication he will be re-signed. Before the restructuring, his contract ran through 2010.

BY THE NUMBERS: 63 -- Yards needed by Jamal Lewis to reach 10,000 for his career.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Both teams had high expectations at the beginning of the year and it hasn't gone that way for either squad. Hopefully we can try to build off these four wins and the next two weeks to try to get a couple more." -- Browns G Eric Steinbach, a former Bengal, on the 4-10 Browns and the 2-11-1 Bengals.