Die Saalfelds » CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns didn’t have to go far

to find their new coach.Freddie Kitchens was already in the building.The 44-year-old Kitchens Britton Colquitt Jersey , who had a dazzling eight-week run as interim offensive coordinator, is finalizing a contract to become Cleveland’s ninth coach since the franchise’s 1999 rebirth, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on the imminent hire.As of late Wednesday night, the Browns still had not officially announced Kitchens as their coach.However, there are no obstacles blocking his hiring and he’s expected to be introduced at a press conference on Thursday.The Browns selected Kitchens over six other candidates, including Gregg Williams, who went 5-3 as Cleveland’s interim coach but is not being retained. The first candidate to interview for the coaching vacancy, Williams, who served as the team’s defensive coordinator, issued a statement thanking Browns fans for their support.“I want to personally reach out to all the Cleveland Browns fans and the people of Cleveland to say thank you for your support,” William said. “It has been an honor to coach this team and we loved living in this community with the finest, most passionate fans in the world. I am proud that we were able to help get the Browns back to the winning tradition the fans deserve.“I am humbled to have worked for such a storied franchise and will always love the city of Cleveland, this city deserves a winner! Please continue to support this team and the incredible group of men. I wish you all the very best and always remember #Comegetsome!”Kitchens has no previous head coaching experience, but his work with Cleveland’s offense — most notably quarterback Baker Mayfield — in the season’s second half vaulted him ahead of the other six candidates interviewed by the Browns, who were looking for the right coach to lead them following a stunning turnaround season.Kitchens will get the chance.Under his leadership, Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, threw 19 of his NFL rookie record 27 touchdown passes while erasing any doubt that he could be the coveted franchise quarterback that has eluded the Browns for decades.Kitchens and Mayfield formed a strong relationship during their time together, and Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam along with general manager John Dorsey are counting on the pair taking Cleveland to new heights.It’s a spectacular rise for Kitchens, who began the season as the team’s running backs coach. He took over the Browns offense when coordinator Todd Haley was fired an hour after coach Hue Jackson’s dismissal on Oct. 29 and Kitchens quickly showed he had coaching chops.He revamped the offensive scheme, using multiple formations and tweaking the game plan to include calls that he knew his players were comfortable running. Kitchens, who was a three-year starting quarterback at Alabama, wasn’t afraid to be creative as he used wide receiver Jarvis Landry on running plays and to throw passes, and he got major production from rookie running back Nick Chubb, left tackle Greg Robinson and receiver Breshad Perriman — three players under-utilized by Jackson and Haley.Kitchens and Williams kept their players focused and motivated following the mid-season coaching change and the Browns went 7-8-1 following an 0-16 season in 2017 under Jackson.As the team’s success grew, Kitchens never campaigned to be Cleveland’s coach but leading a team was always a goal.“Definitely. No doubt,” he said. “I heard the other day somebody say something about I wasn’t ready to be a head coach. I mean, who the hell’s ready to be a head coach? You have a resume that you check off the list and everything?”The barrel-chested Kitchens became a fan favorite in a city that loves underdogs.“I like it here and I like it here a lot, and everybody around here knows that I like it here,” Kitchens said last month. “I love the town of Cleveland. Cleveland and I get along well.”Kitchens is the fourth coach hired by the Haslams since they bought the team in 2012. The Jacksonville Jaguars are without running back Leonard Fournette for the fourth time in two seasons.They went 3-0 without him in 2017.Fournette is inactive a week after straining his right hamstring in the opener against the New York Giants. Fournette tested his hamstring before Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, but the Jaguars opted to be cautious with him in Week 2.The Detroit Lions will be without star pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah against the San Francisco 49ers. Ansah is inactive with a shoulder injury.Inactives for Sunday’s games:INDIANAPOLIS-WASHINGTONColts: T Anthony Castonzo, OL Denzelle Good, DL Denico Autry, CB Chris Milton, RB Christine Michael, DE Tarell Basham, CB Lenzy Pipkins.Redskins: WR Maurice Harris, S Troy Apke, RB Samaje Perine, OL Geron Christian, OL Casey Dunn, DL Caleb Brantley, CB Adonis Alexander.CAROLINA-ATLANTAPanthers: WR Curtis Samuel, WR Damiere Byrd, LB Andre Smith, G Trai Turner, TE Greg Olsen, DE Bryan Cox Jr., DE Efe Obada.Falcons: CB Isaiah Oliver, RB Devonta Freeman, DE Steven Means, G Ben Garland, T Matt Gono, WR Russell Gage, DL Justin Zimmer.KANSAS CITY-PITTSBURGHChiefs: S Eric Berry, RB Darrel Williams, CB Charvarius Ward, LB Ben Niemann, OL Austin Reiter, OL Kahlil McKenzie, DL Justin Hamilton.Steelers:QB Mason Rudolph, WR Justin Hunter Tyrod Taylor Jersey , CB Joe Haden, S Brian Allen, OG David DeCastro, T Zach Banner, DE Tyson Alualu.HOUSTON-TENNESSEETexans: DE/LB Jadeveon Clowney, WR Keke Coutee, WR Sammie Coates Jr., CB Kayvon Webster, T Roderick Johnson, DE Carlos Watkins, DE Christian Covington.Titans: WR Cameron Batson, S Kendrick Lewis, LB Aaron Wallace, T Dennis Kelly, T Taylor Lewan, T Jack Conklin, DE Matt Dickerson.LOS ANGELES CHARGERS-BUFFALOChargers: WR Travis Benjamin, DE Joey Bosa, LB Emmanuel Ellerbee, C Cole Toner, T Joe Barksdale, G Forrest Lamp, DT T.Y. McGill.Bills: DE Shaw Lawson, WR Ray-Ray McCloud, CB Taron Johnson, G Ike Boettger, G Wyatt Teller, T Conor McDermott, TE Khari Lee.MINNESOTA-GREEN BAYVikings: QB Kyle Sloter, RB Roc Thomas, RB Mike Boone, C Pat Elflein, G Bryan Weitzmann, DE Tashawn Bower, DT Jalyn Holmes.Packers: WR Equanimieous St. Brown, S Josh Jones, S Raven Greene, CB Deante Burton, LB Oren Burks, OL Alex Light, WR J’Mon Moore.MIAMI-NEW YORK JETSDolphins: WR DeVante Parker, QB Luke Falk, QB David Fales, CB Cordrea Tankersley, RB Kalen Ballage, T Zach Sterup.Jets: S Marcus Maye, CB Derrick Jones, CB Juston Burris, G Dakota Dozier, TE Jordan Leggett, DL Foley Fatukasi, LB Josh Martin.PHILADELPHIA-TAMPA BAYEagles: QB Carson Wentz, WR Alshon Jeffery, RB Darren Sproles, G Chance Warmack, T Jordan Mailata; G/T Matt Pryor, DE Josh Sweat.Buccaneers: WR Justin Watson, CB Brent Grimes, RB Ronald Jones II, DT Vita Vea, DE Noah Spence, OL Alex Cappa Baker Mayfield Color Rush Jersey , OL Mike Liedtke.CLEVELAND-NEW ORLEANSBrowns: WR Josh Gordon, LB Christian Kirksey, TE Seth DeValve, DT Emmanuel Ogban, DL Ifeadi Odenigbo, DT Devaroe Lawrence, QB Drew Stanton.Saints: WR Cameron Meredith, CB Arthur Maulet, OL Cameron Tom, OL Will Clapp, TE Dan Arnold, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Tyeler Davison.NEW ENGLAND-JACKSONVILLEPatriots: DB J.C. Jackson, CB Keion Crossen, OL Brian Schwenke, DE Derek Rivers, OL Marcus Cannon, WR Corey Coleman, RB Kenjon Barner.Jaguars: RB Leonard Fournette, LB Leon Jacobs, DT Eli Ankou, OL Chris Reed, OL Josh Walker, OL Will Richardson, DE Dawuane Smoot.DETROIT-SAN FRANCISCOLions: WR Brandon Powell, RB Ameer Abdullah, OL Jamil Demby, G T.J. Lang, OL Andrew Donnal, TE Hakeem Valles.49ers: WR Marquise Goodwin, LB Malcolm Smith, OL Erik Magnusson, OL Matt Tobin, G Joshua Garnett, DT Jullian Taylor, T Shon Coleman.OAKLAND-DENVERRaiders: DE Fadol Brown, T T.J. Clemmings, DT P.J. Hall, WR Dwayne Harris, T Justin Murray, CB Nick Nelson, RB DeAndre Washington.Broncos: QB Kevin Hogan, LB Alexander Johnson, G Sam Jones, S Shamarko Thomas, DE DeMarcus Walker, T Elijah Wilkinson, CB Isaac Yiadom.ARIZONA-LOS ANGELES RAMSCardinals: QB Mike Glennon, WR Tent Sherfield, DE Markus Golden, T Andre Smith, DT Olsen Pierre, OL Korey Cunningham, TE Jermaine Gresham.Rams: WR Brandon Allen, LB Mark Barron, RB John Kelly, LB Trevon Young, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, WR Michael Thomas, DT Tanzel Smart.