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Browns Hand Play-Calling Reins To OC Ken Dorsey

October 23rd, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Amid a disastrous start, the Browns are changing play-callers. Despite winning Coach of the Year twice since arriving in Cleveland in 2020, Kevin Stefanski will hand over play-calling duties to his new top lieutenant.

Ken Dorsey will take over in that role, Stefanski announced Wednesday. This comes nearly a year after the Bills fired Dorsey from his post as their offensive play-caller. While Stefanski is determining if Dorsey will call plays from the sideline or the booth, he is delegating play-calling responsibilities after holding that role for four-plus seasons.

Refusing to bench Deshaun Watson, Stefanski had said he needed to be better in the play-calling role. With Watson out of the picture for the season’s remainder (and potentially for good in Cleveland, though his contract remains an anchor), Dorsey will take over for the accomplished HC. With the Browns set to start Jameis Winston in Week 8, he will hear the former Bills OC calling the shots.

Stefanski saw his offense work with Baker Mayfield in 2020 and again with Joe Flacco, despite a spate of injuries on offense, last season. Both slates ended with the Cleveland HC honored as NFL Coach of the Year. Stefanski also coaxed decent play from Jacoby Brissett during Watson’s 11-game suspension in 2022. The Stefanski-Watson partnership did not mesh, and while the latter probably deserves the lion’s share of the blame (as he ranks last in QBR and first in guaranteed money), this has not been the coach’s finest hour either. The Browns enter Week 8 last in total offense and 29th in scoring.

Although Jimmy Haslam placed what can now be labeled blame on GM Andrew Berry for hatching the plan to fully guarantee Watson’s contract to convince him to waive his no-trade clause for Cleveland in 2022, Stefanski was believed to be aligned with the front office boss. The Watson vision backfired spectacularly, and the Browns now must navigate a season that involves seller’s trades despite a quarterback signed at a fully guaranteed rate through 2026. Despite Berry and Stefanski having signed extensions this offseason, it would not be out of the question ownership is evaluating both long term — given the Watson debacle. Dorsey is suddenly a key player in this chapter.

The Bills fired Dorsey despite coaching a top-five offense. Buffalo began to lean on the run game more under interim OC Joe Brady, with Dorsey playing a role in attempting to influence Josh Allen to run less (for body preservation purposes). As Allen struggled with turnovers and the Bills in a midseason slump last season, Sean McDermott fired Dorsey. In Dorsey’s one full season as Buffalo’s OC (2022), the team ranked second in both points and yards. Of course, Allen played the lead role there. Going from the MVP candidate to Winston will be a steep drop for the second-chance OC.

Stefanski did not initially announce he would keep play-calling duties until training camp. Put in position to justify Watson’s starting spot repeatedly, Stefanski will now shift to a CEO role to close out his fifth season as Browns HC.

Watson’s endless struggles put Stefanski in a tough spot, and despite Flacco’s success producing a playoff berth, Stefanski — the Vikings’ play-caller before taking the Browns job in 2020 — will take a step back. At 1-6, the Browns are set for a major shakeup. It will be Dorsey and Winston’s show beginning Sunday.

Browns Designate Wyatt Teller For Return; Nyheim Hines Out For Season

October 23rd, 2024 at 1:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns have designated right guard Wyatt Teller for return from injured reserve with the expectation that he will play in Week 8 against the Ravens, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Teller suffered a sprained MCL in Week 3, sidelining him for Cleveland’s last four games with rookie Zak Zinter and veteran Michael Dunn starting in his absence.

Teller would have to be activated to the 53-man roster to suit up on Sunday, but he can practice for up to three weeks without being activated before he reverts to season-ending IR. Head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated that the veteran lineman — a six-year Browns starter — will not require an extended ramp-up period before retaking the field.

Stefanski also said that running back Nyheim Hines would not be activated from the non-football injury list this week, delaying his comeback from a freak ACL tear in a jet ski accident in the summer of 2023. Hines spent all of last season on the NFI list in Buffalo before making his way to Cleveland, where the Browns hoped he could complete his rehab and contribute to their backfield this season.

Hines began practicing on October 2, opening a 21-day window before he had to be added to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve. It will be the latter for Hines, who will miss his second season in a row, potentially putting his long-term career in jeopardy at the age of 27 in an era of devalued running backs.

The Browns will stick with Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford to lead the backfield for the rest of the year, with D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong providing rotational depth and special teams snaps. Chubb came off the PUP list last week, providing a positive development during what has otherwise been a miserable Browns season. While the player the Browns hoped could be his pass-down complement is out of the picture, Teller’s return will put the Browns in position to have their full O-line available for the first time since the 2023 opener.

Teams Calling Browns On Myles Garrett; Cleveland Unlikely To Move DE, CB Denzel Ward

October 22nd, 2024 at 9:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The edge rusher market lost Haason Reddick, who is finally on track to make his Jets debut thanks to a recent contract resolution. As teams are in need at the glamour defensive position, inquiries into two of the league’s best are already underway.

Although the Raiders have said they are not trading Maxx Crosby, the standout EDGE subsequently made some comments that could pry that door open. Crosby is tied to a 2-5 team. Myles Garrett has that beat, with the Browns having gone from an 11-6 season to starting 1-6. Garrett is signed through 2026, and teams are looking into the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.

Teams have begun asking the Browns if Garrett could be obtained in a trade, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes. Clubs certainly ask on players they do not expect to be made available, but cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports the Browns will not trade their centerpiece defender. Rumors swirled about Garrett’s potential availability last week, as the Browns did part with Amari Cooper, but Garrett has said he wants to finish his career in Cleveland. As it stands, the All-Pro defensive end does not need to worry about relocating.

Cleveland has Garrett tied to an extension that runs through 2026. The Browns did well to lock down the ascending defender on a five-year deal shortly after exercising his fifth-year option. That meant Garrett was under team control for seven more years. We are now in Year 5, and Garrett — who at the time was coming off his suspension stemming from the ugly incident that involved him striking Mason Rudolph with a helmet — has become one of the best players in Browns history. He is in the running for best player since the team rebooted — though, Joe Thomas probably holds that distinction currently — and rumblings about a second extension figure to emerge in 2025.

Garrett’s team-friendly contract would naturally appeal to suitors, but it also would make the price of acquiring him steep. The Browns would be out more than $40MM in dead money by trading Garrett now. Most of that sum could be defrayed to 2025, but the Browns are not exactly in a situation where taking on major dead money amounts will be palatable — given their quarterback situation.

A first-round pick and change would presumably be required for the Browns to consider moving on, as this is not a typical rebuild situation. Garrett still anchors a quality defense, one that led the league against the pass last season and helped it survive a slew of offensive injuries during a playoff campaign, and the Browns have a host of strong role players. Though, their QB plan has effectively overshadowed everything else about the roster.

The Browns have made the playoffs twice under Kevin Stefanski, whose two Coach of the Year showings came after he coached Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco to bounce-back seasons. Deshaun Watson‘s contract and woeful performance has hindered the Browns, and the fourth-year HC is not yet committing to the embattled passer for the 2025 season. Still, the Browns are tied to Watson’s fully guaranteed deal. Although Cabot notes the Browns are likely to trade more players before the deadline, Garrett and Denzel Ward are not likely to be among them.

Both Garrett and Ward, the latter a Cleveland-area native, should be considered building blocks for when the franchise picks up the pieces from the Watson disaster. Ward is signed through 2027 on what had been — before the Patrick Surtain and Jalen Ramsey deals — a top-market cornerback contract. A John Dorsey-era draftee, Ward was nevertheless a priority under current FO boss Andrew Berry, who was on the Browns’ staff under Sashi Brown when the team drafted Garrett in 2017.

It would surprise if the Browns parted with either of their top two defenders, with Breer adding recently extended linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is unlikely to be dealt. Za’Darius Smith made the unusual step of mentioning a potential Lions trade, and Detroit is believed to be interested.

The Browns will likely be OK dealing some veterans, as they formulate a post-2024 plan as this year’s team almost definitely will not return to the playoffs. Garrett and Ward are undoubtedly part of that 2025-and-beyond vision.

Trade Rumors: Chiefs, Cooper, Browns, Jefferson, Bills, Eagles

October 22nd, 2024 at 5:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Reminding of the 2010s Patriots, the Chiefs have continued to pile up wins lacking in style points. They are the NFL’s lone unbeaten, though the two-time reigning Super Bowl champs’ plus-43 point differential — thanks to four one-score wins — is tied for seventh in the NFL. Kansas City has lost Rashee Rice for the season, and Marquise Brown is out for at least the full regular season. The team also lost JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday; the recently re-signed veteran aggravated a hamstring injury and will miss at least Week 8, Andy Reid said.

While the Chiefs do have an all-time great at tight end in Travis Kelce, albeit a 35-year-old version of the TE/podcast host/actor, they have not seen first-rounder Xavier Worthy develop into a consistent option. The team has used Mecole Hardman more, with Justin Watson and Skyy Moore reprised their 2023 roles as regulars Sunday due to the injuries. Although Kansas City keeps getting by — thanks largely to a stout defense — SI.com’s Albert Breer points to the team still being interested in adding a wideout.

The Chiefs have been linked to DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk recently but have not made a move. It will be interesting to see if an AFC team would be willing to help them construct a better threepeat bid. NFCer Cooper Kupp, however, is available — albeit for a second-round pick. With the deadline moved back a week (to Nov. 5) this year, here is more from the trade market:

  • Amari Cooper relocated to Buffalo last week, with the Browns — after having not extended the reliable veteran this offseason — dealing him to the Bills in a pick-swap trade headlined by a 2025 third-rounder. The Browns were planning to hang onto Cooper until closer to the deadline, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. In addition to Buffalo, two other teams were in on the former top-five pick, per Cabot, who adds the other suitors did not match the Bills’ aggression. Cooper did not expect to be dealt, and the Browns did not anticipate the Bills showing such strong interest. The 30-year-old pass catcher caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in his Bills debut.
  • The Bills are not shutting the door on making another move to bolster their enduring Super Bowl quest. Bills GM Brandon Beane said during a Pat McAfee Show interview that Josh Allen‘s presence, despite the team’s cost-cutting moves this offseason, continues to keep the club “all in” toward a Super Bowl push. The eighth-year GM is open to more deals, though The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia indicates a lower-profile trade — potentially for a backup offensive lineman — could be the Cooper encore. Beane added the Browns showing cold feet on Cooper would have prompted the team to keep looking at receiver. Cooper’s presence rounds out Buffalo’s receiving corps, which has seen improvement from Khalil Shakir and some recent growth from rookie Keon Coleman.
  • Another Browns player drawing trade interest: veteran D-lineman Quinton Jefferson. Teams have asked about the recent free agent signing, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes. A productive but nomadic player, Jefferson has played for five teams over the past five years. The former Seahawks draftee has operated as a Browns backup, playing in five games and registering one sack. The Browns used void years to drop Jefferson’s cap hit to $1.2MM (on a one-year, $4MM deal), giving an acquiring team a minimal prorated sum to take on in the event of a trade. The Browns should be expected to move other pieces not essential to their 2025-and-beyond plans, but Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward are viewed as off the table.
  • The Eagles received a bounce-back effort from their pass rush Sunday, preying on Andrew Thomas‘ absence to sack Giants quarterbacks eight times. Jalen Carter and off-ball linebacker Nakobe Dean led the way with two apiece. Defensive ends accounted for the other four, but the edge group has started slowly. Big-ticket FA signing Bryce Huff has 1.5 sacks and just three QB hits in six games. Going into Week 7, Breer added the Eagles — rarely shy about trade talks under Howie Roseman — may be a team to monitor regarding a pass-rushing addition.

Browns Sign Bailey Zappe Off Chiefs’ Practice Squad, Place Deshaun Watson On IR

October 22nd, 2024 at 1:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

1:17pm: The Browns made this move official. Zappe will take Watson’s roster spot, with the high-priced starter being moved to IR following his Week 7 Achilles tear. Watson will undergo surgery in the near future, though, it is not yet known if a full repair or an Aaron Rodgers-like speed-bridge procedure will take place.

8:42am: In need of a healthy depth option at quarterback, the Browns are making an addition. Cleveland is set to sign Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Deshaun Watson is out for the year with a torn Achilles, leaving the team with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston at the quarterback position. Thompson-Robinson took over for Watson on Sunday, but he suffered a finger injury and was also forced to exit the contest. It remains to be seen when the 2023 fourth-rounder will next be available, so Zappe could find himself dressing as the backup as early as Week 8.

The 25-year-old began his career with the Patriots, making a pair of starts during his rookie campaign. The promise he showed during that spell proved to be rather short-lived, though, and he was briefly out of the organization ahead of last season. Zappe was brought back, and with Mac Jones struggling he finished off the year atop New England’s depth chart. Despite having eight starts to his name, Zappe again found himself on the outside looking in this past summer, as the Patriots waived him. They have moved forward with veteran Jacoby Brissett along with rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton under center.

The Chiefs acted quickly by signing Zappe to their practice squad. That move added depth behind Patrick Mahomes and new backup Carson Wentz, signed in free agency to take on QB2 duties. Both of those passers have remained healthy this season, leaving Zappe without a clear path to a place on the 53-man roster. He will now head to Cleveland in a bid to compete for a spot on the team’s roster even after Thompson-Robinson is healthy. Zappe has completed 63.2% of his passes while throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and adding sparse production in the running game during his career.

Those figures are not particularly encouraging, but this move will give him a fresh start at the NFL level. The Western Kentucky product could earn a stay beyond 2024 with the Browns in the event he were to see playing time and deliver solid performances. If not, how Cleveland proceeds in the offseason will become even more uncertain with Watson not being assured of the starting gig once he is healthy.

For the time being, Winston will likely be in line to make his first start of the year as Thompson-Robinson continues to recover. The 1-6 Browns sit last in the NFL in total offense and 29th in scoring, and whichever quarterbacks are used moving forward will look to usher in improvement on that side of the ball (something which could be feasible with Nick Chubb now healthy). Cleveland will look to end Baltimore’s five-game winning streak in Week 8 with a notably different looking QB room.

Kevin Stefanski Declines To Name Deshaun Watson Browns’ 2025 Starter; Dorian Thompson-Robinson Could Miss Time

October 21st, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the remainder of the 2024 campaign, the Browns will not have Deshaun Watson available at quarterback. His Week 7 Achilles tear will require season-ending surgery and lead to further speculation about how Cleveland will proceed at the position.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted Watson will undergo surgery this week to begin his rehab process. On that point, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is expected to have Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson perform the procedure. She adds that while consideration was given to the ‘speed bridge’ option which offers a shorter recovery timeline, the traditional operation is likely in this case. With Watson not in consideration to heal before the end of the season, the latter path is a sensible one.

A full recovery is expected for Watson, whose three-year Browns tenure has seen him play only 19 games. In the wake of this year’s struggles, Stefanski repeatedly offered public endorsements of the three-time Pro Bowler as Cleveland’s starter, stating that keeping Watson atop the depth chart was a call on his part and not that of ownership. Today, Stefanski offered further positive reviews of the 29-year-old but did not confirm Watson will hold the QB1 title once he is healthy in 2025.

“Obviously I believe in Deshaun, but I also think it’s important just to acknowledge that he just had a bad injury and a bad break for him and we’re feeling bad for him,” Stefanski said. “[I] know that he’ll bounce back, but not getting into all those things down the road. I’m looking forward to him getting the surgery and obviously getting his body back.”

Two years and $92MM in fully-guaranteed compensation remains on Watson’s pact, one which has been restructured multiple times. The resultant cap charges will make it difficult to continue with Watson absent any further adjustments, but cutting or trading him is not feasible. Stefanski noted (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) the Browns will add a quarterback to fill the vacancy created by Watson’s injury, but it remains to be seen what role a new signal-caller will have to close out the season.

2023 fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson and free agent addition Jameis Winston remain as Cleveland’s healthy quarterbacks. A change in the backup pecking order allowed for Thompson-Robinson to take over after Watson went down, although he suffered a finger injury which forced him to leave the contest as well. Testing on the 24-year-old’s injury will take place to determine if surgery is required; Stefanski noted Thompson-Robinson should be available at some point but his Week 8 status is in question (h/t Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal).

Winston might be needed during at least the short-term future as a result. The former Buccaneer and Saint has 80 starts to his name, and as a pending free agent he has plenty of incentive to deliver a strong showing and boost his market value. Of course, Winston could find himself competing for playing time with the Browns in 2025 depending on Watson’s health status and how the team views his grip on the starting gig once he is back in the fold.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson To Undergo Achilles Surgery

October 21st, 2024 at 10:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Out for the remainder of the 2024 campaign due to his Achilles tear, Deshaun Watson‘s attention will soon turn to rehab. The Browns’ starting quarterback is set to undergo surgery in the near future.

Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is currently giving thought to the ‘speed bridge’ procedure as an alternative to the traditional Achilles repair. In recent years, the new technique has allowed for players to return to practice along a shorter timeline, as evidenced last season by Aaron Rodgers. The procedure (whichever form it ultimately takes) will begin Watson’s process of returning to full health with an eye on the 2025 campaign.

The 29-year-old’s Cleveland tenure has included a number of sub-par performances, but it has also been defined by missed time. Watson was sidelined for the first 11 games of the 2022 season through suspension, and a shoulder injury limited him to only six contests last year. The surgery which shut him down last season was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who will likely handle Watson’s upcoming Achilles procedure. Either way, his campaign will be brought to an end after less than seven full games played.

When on the field, Watson has not managed to reclaim his previous form. The three-time Pro Bowler faced massive expectations given the package (including three first-round picks) Cleveland paid to acquire him from the Texans along with the fully-guaranteed contract which convinced him to join the Browns. Another two years remain on that $230MM pact, with $92MM still owed. The team’s consecutive offseason restructures has Watson on track for record-breaking cap hits ($72.94MM) in 2025 and ’26, and any kind of extension to flatten those figures would be difficult to justify given his growing list of injuries and subpar play. For that reason, a trade to get out of the contract would of course be unfeasible.

Cleveland is set to receive a small cap credit next year based on the $13.9MM portion of Watson’s 2024 compensation which is insured (h/t CBS Sports’ Joel Corry). Still, that will offer little reprieve in terms of the issue presented by the pact and Watson’s inability to meet expectations so far. While some of the contract is still insured for next year, Corry notes that is not the case for 2026. Team and player thus have plenty of incentive to avoid any further lengthy absences.

While Watson weighs his options, the Browns will move forward with Dorian Thompson-Robinson (provided he does not require a lengthy stint on the sidelines from the finger injury he suffered yesterday) and Jameis Winston under center. The pecking order between the two switched ahead of Week 7, and it will be interesting to see how it shakes out over the remainder of the season.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Tears Achilles

October 21st, 2024 at 10:30am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 21: An MRI confirmed on Monday Watson has, in fact, torn his Achilles (h/t Rapoport). His season is over, and attention will turn toward his Week 1 availability for the 2025 campaign.

OCTOBER 20, 10:00pm: When speaking about Watson’s injury after Cleveland’s loss, Stefanski confirmed the team’s fear is an Achilles tear. Further testing will be needed for confirmation, but in all likelihood Thompson-Robinson (who himself exited the contest due to a finger injury) or Winston will be leaned on for the remainder of the campaign.

2:20pm: Deshaun Watson remained atop the Browns’ quarterback depth chart to begin Week 7, but he has since exited the team’s ongoing contest. Watson suffered a non-contact injury affecting his right leg (video link), and he was carted off the field shortly thereafter.

Watson has since been diagnosed with an Achilles injury, per a team announcement. A tear has not been confirmed yet, but the possibility of that season-ending ailment is obviously high. Cleveland does indeed fear Watson suffered a tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Further testing will be needed to confirm the worst-case scenario, but if that does take place the Browns will be forced to look at other quarterback options. Questions have been raised throughout the year about a change under center with Watson struggling mightily in 2024. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has repeatedly offered endorsements of the blockbuster trade acquisition (and not at the behest of ownership), who remains attached to the five-year, $230MM deal he signed upon arrival. That pact is guaranteed in full, ensuring Watson will remain in place beyond this season.

The former Texans Pro Bowler is owed $92MM over the final two years of his pact, and restructures have left him positioned to carry massive cap hits during that span. Likewise, any decision to cut him would lead to enormous dead money charges, while finding a trade partner would be impossible without sending notable draft capital to an acquiring team. For the time being, attention will turn to his recovery process after a second consecutive season-ending injury.

Watson dealt with a shoulder ailment which limited him to six games last year. Considering he was suspended for the first 11 contests of the 2022 campaign stemming from his sexual misconduct lawsuits, missed time was already a key element of his Browns tenure. Presuming the 29-year-old is indeed facing a torn Achilles, that will be the case to an even greater degree. Given the recovery timeline for such injuries, being healthy in time for the start of the 2025 campaign will likely be a challenge.

In the meantime, newly-promoted backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson will take over. The 2023 fifth-rounder made three starts during his rookie campaign, one during which the Browns cycled through several signal-callers and landed on Joe Flacco as their preferred starter. The veteran did not receive an offer to remain in Cleveland during free agency, however, and he took the Colts’ QB2 gig. Thompson-Robinson saw Tyler Huntley (who was eventually released) and Jameis Winston added to the mix this spring.

Winston has 80 starts to his name, but so far this season he has only attempted a single pass. Thompson-Robinson’s status as backup for today will give him the opportunity to stake a claim to the first-team role for the coming weeks. If he should struggle in that capacity, Winston will be available as an experienced option. Either way, Watson should not be expected to be on the field any time soon.

Browns Promote Dorian Thompson-Robinson To QB2, Demote Jameis Winston

October 20th, 2024 at 12:22pm CST by Rory Parks

There is interesting quarterback news to report in Cleveland today, though it is likely not the news Browns fans were hoping to receive. While struggling QB1 Deshaun Watson is still operating as the starter, the Browns have demoted Jameis Winston to the emergency third-string passer for today’s game against the Bengals. Second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson will serve as Watson’s backup.

Cleveland signed both Winston and Tyler Huntley this offseason, eschewing the chance to re-sign Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco after Flacco’s surprising success down the stretch of the 2023 season. That decision has been heavily scrutinized in light of Flacco’s strong play with the Colts in relief of Anthony Richardson in 2024 and Watson’s continued struggles (Huntley was released as part of final cutdowns in August).

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns considered Thompson-Robinson and Watson as untouchable in trades this offseason, though the club would have been willing to deal Winston then and would still be willing to move him prior to the November 5 deadline, especially now that he has been demoted. Cabot says that if Watson is ultimately stripped of his starting duties – a move that HC Kevin Stefanski has thus far resisted while insisting that ownership has not ordered him to keep Watson in the lineup – Thompson-Robinson, not Winston, would be the player to replace him.

Cleveland is said to be quite high on DTR, a fifth-round selection in 2023 who enjoyed an impressive preseason this summer. Prior to Flacco’s run as a starter last season, Thompson-Robinson started three games as a rookie and generally performed like a raw Day 3 pick in his first professional campaign: he posted a 1-2 record and completed 60 of 112 passes (53.6%) for 440 yards and one touchdown against four interceptions.

Still, the Browns are bullish on his upside, and should Stefanski decide to pull the plug on Watson, the club will want to know what it has in DTR so it can plan accordingly for the future. Cabot notes that the team has wanted to see what Watson could do with a healthy O-Line, a healthy David Njoku, and a healthy Nick Chubb, With today’s game against Cincinnati marking Chubb’s first action since a brutal knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, Watson is as well-equipped as he can be at this point (the team’s recent trade of Amari Cooper aside).

As such, Cabot says the club will be monitoring Watson’s performance closely. If he does not exhibit noticeable improvement in short order, Cabot believes the 1-5 outfit will hand the reins to Thompson-Robinson. 

Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com is a bit more skeptical, as he suggests that Watson – despite ranking 28th in the league with a 76.6 quarterback rating – still has something of a long leash. Grossi confirms, however, that Winston is not hurt, thereby confirming that the DTR promotion is merit-based.

Browns’ Za’Darius Smith Addresses Trade Possibilities, Potential Lions Acquisition

October 20th, 2024 at 9:52am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 20: Adding more substance to the Lions-Smith speculation, ESPN’s Adam Schefter hears from league sources that Detroit could indeed be interested in acquiring the accomplished pass rusher prior to the deadline. Cleveland would prefer to retain Smith and his thru-2025 contract, but the club is expected to listen to offers.

OCTOBER 18: The Browns have traded away Amari Cooper, a sign the 1-5 team could continue to sell leading up to the trade deadline. If that proves true, edge rusher Za’Darius Smith could soon be on the move.

The veteran served as a full-time starter last year, his debut campaign in Cleveland. Smith posted only 5.5 sacks – his fewest during a healthy season since 2017 – but he managed to land an extended look with the Browns in the offseason. Team and player agreed to a two-year, $23MM deal in March which prevented him from testing the open market. Things have not gone according to plan in 2024, however.

The Browns’ offense has struggled mightily with Deshaun Watson at quarterback, but the team has also failed to live up to expectations on defense so far. In terms of pass rush production, Cleveland sits 14th in the NFL with 15 sacks; Smith has accounted for three of those while adding four pressures and two tackles for loss. The three-time Pro Bowler’s base salary for this year is just $1.2MM (a prorated portion of which would be taken on by an acquiring team) and none of his base compensation for next year is guaranteed.

“You know what, that’s not my decision. That’s all upstairs,” Smith said when asked about the possibility of a trade (via Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram). “I would rather you ask them to see what that would be… I’m staying positive, but now that you say that, [getting traded] might be a good look, a good feel for me.”

Smith’s 10-year career has seen him suit up for four different teams, including stints with the Packers and Vikings. A deal sending him to the Lions would allow for a return to the NFC North, and it would help fill the void created by Aidan Hutchinson‘s broken leg. No firm links have emerged between Smith and Detroit, but he would apparently welcome the opportunity to finish the season in the Motor City.

“Hate that injury happened to him, a guy that was on his way to get Defensive Player of the Year possibly,” the former fourth-rounder said of Hutchinson. “That’s a big loss for them. But if I was to go to Detroit, I would like it, because I get to play Green Bay twice a year and the Vikings twice a year. So, yeah, that’ll be big.”

The Lions could certainly use help along the edge with both Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport out of the picture. The team has, to no surprise, showed at least some interest in Haason Reddick as his new representation seeks to bring an end to his Jets holdout. Adding Reddick will require some kind of contractual commitment unless he changes his stance and elects to play out the remainder of his existing deal (either in New York or as a member of a new team) and in doing so puts himself on track for free agency.

Other edge rushers could be on the trade market, though, including Smith. Given his remarks, he would certainly welcome a move sending him to the Lions. It will be worth watching closely to see if that sentiment is reciprocated, or if other teams show interest in adding him before the November 5 deadline.

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