The Browns kept four quarterbacks on their active roster, using other position groups to make their way down to 53. Here is how Cleveland maneuvered there:
Released:
- CB Tony Brown
- RB D’Onta Foreman
- CB Justin Hardee
- T Germain Ifedi
- WR James Proche
Waived:
- DT Jowon Briggs
- WR Ahmarean Brown
- WR Jaelon Darden
- S Christopher Edmonds
- DT Siaki Ika
- DT Sam Kamara
- TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
- LB Winston Reid
- T Lorenzo Thompson
- TE Treyton Welch
- WR Michael Woods
Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:
Placed on reserve/non-football injury list:
- RB Nyheim Hines
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- RB Nick Chubb (story)
Placed on IR:
Placed on commissioner exempt list:
- DT Michael Hall (story)
Kevin Stefanski pointed to Foreman not being out of the picture, alluding this only being the team’s initial 53-man roster. The veteran back, who signed as a depth/rotational option this offseason, should be expected back, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot tweets. Teams can use up to six practice squad slots on vested veterans. This is Foreman’s fourth team in four years, but he has managed to play regular roles for each. The Browns also have their two other high-profile options — Chubb and Hines — out for at least four games, as they recover from 2023 injuries.
Cleveland considered trading Jameis Winston or Tyler Huntley, with second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson showing enough improvement to have made the 53-man roster. But the team stopped short and made the rare move to carry four active-roster arms. One of the non-Deshaun Watson passers could be vulnerable, however, as the waiver wire will come into play soon. Winston and Huntley are vested vets and would head straight to free agency if released; Thompson-Robinson would need to pass through waivers. Teams often prioritize those players on cutdown day.
Hall is out of the picture for the foreseeable future, as his legal issue runs its course, and Wypler is out for the year with a broken ankle. The Browns designated Dunn for return. This will cut into Cleveland’s eight injury activations, and while the veteran blocker will miss at least four games, the team prioritized his comeback enough to use this early designation. Dunn has been with the team since 2020.
Hardee? That’s crazy
I agree, it seems just yesterday that Hardee was an important piece of the secondary. Just two years ago he went to the Pro Bowl and was one of the best slot corners in the league.
Confucius say: cornerback not brought back by NewYork Jets maybe no longer as good as we once thought.
YeH, I misspoke. Hardee was one of the best special teamers in the league. Don’t know who I was thinking of.
Point still stands. Hardee has been a Matthew Slater-type, he’s that well regarded on special teams. A bit surprising.
Send Winston to giants
Foreman just can’t get any respect. Wherever he goes, he outplays his interest.
Carolina should have never gotten rid of him, and they have a need with Brooks still recovering. It would be a great signing for them. Dallas will be leaning on an aged Elliott, and should be looking at additions themselves. There are several more teams that should take a gander at a back who’s been more productive than his contracts have prompted.
Agree. I’ve always liked Foreman. I still never have figured out why the Browns dumped D’Ernest Johnson a couple years ago.
If I’m Cleveland, no way am I trading Winston. Watson has never struck me as a 17 game, play through pain type. And Winston is a way more reliable option than Huntley will ever be.