Browns Trim Roster To 53

The Browns are one of the first teams to slash their roster from 80 to 53 players. Here is how Cleveland reached the NFL’s regular-season roster max:

Released:

• RB John Kelly
• QB Josh Rosen

Waived:

• LB Dakota Allen
• WR Daylen Baldwin
• TE Miller Forristall
• TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
• G Blake Hance
• WR Mike Harley Jr.
• LB Willie Harvey Jr.
• C Brock Hoffman
• CB Shaun Jolly
• CB Herb Miller
• TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
• G David Moore Jr.
• DT Roderick Perry
• FB Johnny Stanton
• T Alex Taylor
• WR Easop Winston

Waived/injured:

• S Lavert Hill

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

• QB Deshaun Watson

After seeing an NFL-NFLPA settlement increase his suspension to 11 games, Watson cannot return to game action until Dec. 4. He can return to the Browns’ facility in October and begin practicing in November.

With Jimmy Garoppolo recommitted to the 49ers, Jacoby Brissett is seemingly Cleveland’s locked-in QB1. While Brissett bombing in the role could prompt the Browns to pursue Garoppolo’s cheaper contract before the trade deadline, the veteran now has a no-trade clause again. The 49ers also may be interested in retaining the veteran arm in case of an injury to Trey Lance or if the much-hyped prospect struggles.

Receiving a fair amount of hype as a prospect three years before Lance, Rosen has not panned out. He signed with the Browns late in the offseason but, barring a practice squad stay, will be bounced from another team. The former Cardinals No. 10 overall pick has moved from Arizona to Miami to Tampa to San Francisco to Atlanta to Cleveland since 2019.

Hance started eight games for the Browns last season and has been with the team since 2020, arriving as a UDFA. Having been in Kevin Stefanski’s system for three years now, the 26-year-old blocker would make sense as a taxi squad stash — especially with starting center Nick Harris on IR.