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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Making 40-yard throws
Thu, Apr 18, 2024, 10:31 AM
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Thursday that Watson (shoulder) has been making throws of up to 40 yards, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: While not quite willing to guarantee that Watson will be ready for the regular-season opener, Berry did confirm that's the expectation and said the Browns are "pretty optimistic" about the QB's rehab process so far. Watson spoke with reporters Tuesday, mentioning that the team medical staff favors a cautious approach that would see him wait until training camp before returning to full practice participation. The 28-year-old thus figures to be limited during OTAs, giving free-agent additions Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley more chances to throw to the team's top receivers. The Browns traded for WR Jerry Jeudy in March and still have WRs Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore as well as TE David Njoku. There's also a strong chance of improved blocking this season, after 2023 saw the Browns lose their top three OTs to season-ending knee injuries. Watson is the biggest variable though, perhaps more so because of his disappointing 2022-23 performance than the ongoing rehab from Nov. 21 surgery to repair a displaced glenoid fracture in his right shoulder. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb Running on land again
Thu, Apr 18, 2024, 10:07 AM
Chubb (knee) resumed running on land within the last week, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Chubb took his rehab to the next level shortly after agreeing last Thursday to a contract alteration that converted a large portion of his scheduled $11.75 million base salary into incentives. He's entering the final season of a three-year extension and still faces a long path to complete his rehab from surgeries in September and November to address ACL, MCL and meniscus injuries in his left knee. It's the same knee in which he suffered a major injury Oct. 2015 -- his sophomore season at Georgia -- and he later had an MCL sprain in the knee Oct. 2020. The Browns hope the 28-year-old is ready for Week 1, but they're also preparing for the possibility of missed time, having added RBs D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines (knee) to a roster that still has Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Throwing full speed
Tue, Apr 16, 2024, 1:39 PM
Watson (shoulder) said Tuesday he's already resumed "throwing full speed" but that he's uncertain how large a workload he'll handle during OTAs and minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Watson clarified that certain members of the Browns' medical staff are in favor of a more conservative approach to the quarterback's recovery from right shoulder surgery, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, which would wait until training camp to have him fully practice. Still, Watson has been fully forthright in his confidence to be available for the Browns' season opener, and there appear to be no real worries about his Week 1 status. In case Watson misses part of the offseason, or struggles during the fall, Cleveland can lean on newly-signed, experienced backups Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb Takes pay cut
Thu, Apr 11, 2024, 9:24 AM
Chubb (knee) agreed Thursday to restructure his contract with the Browns, lowering his $11.75 million base salary while adding additional incentives, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Chubb is coming off a severe left knee injury that involved surgeries to repair his ACL, MCL and meniscus, but the Browns have consistently stated that he wasn't considered a cut candidate, according to Cabot. Restructuring his base salary into a more manageable figure solidifies the notion that Chubb will remain in Cleveland for the final year of his deal in 2024. Depending on his performance, Chubb could reportedly make back the entire sum of his initial salary, but he'll first have to return to full health and return to the field. Should Chubb's recovery into the start of the regular season or result in him being limited in the early weeks, the Browns will have new backfield additions D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines (knee) available to help carry the load along with holdover Jerome Ford. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Confident in Week 1 availability
Fri, Apr 5, 2024, 10:41 AM
Watson, who is bouncing back from shoulder surgery he underwent Nov. 21, noted Thursday he has no doubt that he'll be ready for the Browns' season opener, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Per Cabot, Watson resumed throwing as of March 19, with the quarterback acknowledging that his recovery process is "day to day" and that he plans to "to take it one step at a time." In the coming months, part of that process will involve load management, with Watson expressing confidence that he'll be ready and in top form in advance of Week 1. That said, Watson figures to be eased back into the mix once the Browns resume on-field activities, a scenario that should result in newcomers Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley seeing added signal-caller reps until Watson is deemed ready to practice without limitations. |
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson Dorian Thompson-Robinson Still bouncing back from hip issue
Tue, Apr 2, 2024, 11:48 AM
GM Andrew Berry noted recently that the Browns could proceed cautiously this offseason with Thompson-Robinson, who is bouncing back from a season-ending hip injury, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: "We always want to be cautious and mindful of our guys coming back from injury concerns," Berry noted last Tuesday. Though the hip issue that landed Thompson-Robinson on IR last December didn't require surgery, the QB has been undergoing injury rehab of late, and with the Browns having added Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley in free agency, the team can afford to proceed deliberately with both Thompson-Robinson and Deshaun Watson (shoulder). As a fifth-round rookie last season, Thompson-Robinson drew three starts, but his path to playing time in 2024 isn't clear, considering Watson's looming return to the mix, as well as the presence of a pair of experienced newcomers in Winston and Huntley. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Making good progress in recovery
Tue, Apr 2, 2024, 9:05 AM
Watson (shoulder) recently said on his QB Unplugged podcast that he's "in a great spot" and has "plenty of time to ramp up the throwing sessions," per Nick Shook of NFL.com.
Analysis: Watson is believed to have resumed throwing in mid-to-late March, after undergoing surgery Nov. 21 to repair a displaced glenoid fracture in his right shoulder. He'll presumably be absent/limited throughout OTAs and minicamp but may be ready for full participation when the Browns open training camp in late July. While a fully guaranteed contract ensures Watson will get another shot as the starter despite his disappointing performances in 2022 and 2023, the Browns prioritized QB depth this offseason by signing experienced backups in Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley. They also upgraded their receiver group, trading for Jerry Jeudy and then signing him to a three-year extension. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb Almost ready to resume load running
Tue, Mar 26, 2024, 8:21 AM
Chubb (knee) is expected to resume load running soon, and the next three months will determine his availability for the start of the 2024 season, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Chubb is expected to graduate from conditioning work "this month", per Browns general manager Andrew Berry. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that the general manager also said the running back has done a fantastic job in his rehab thus far, and reiterated that Chubb is expected to remain with the Browns for the 2024 season despite a $15.83 million cap hit in his final year of his contract. Cleveland inked D'Onta Foreman in free agency, adding another depth piece to the backfield alongside Jerome Ford, but the expectation remains that Chubb will operate as the Browns' starter once fully recovered from surgeries to repair the ACL, MCL and meniscus of his left knee. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see Ford and Foreman begin the 2024 campaign with larger workloads, and for Chubb's involvement to grow as the season progresses. |
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D'Onta Foreman D'Onta Foreman Inks deal with Cleveland
Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 1:15 PM
The Browns and Foreman agreed to a contract Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
Analysis: After an injury-riddled start to his career, Foreman has carved at a role in three different backfields over the last three campaigns, averaging 54.4 rushing yards per game and racking up 12 touchdowns on the ground in 35 appearances between the Titans, Panthers and Bears. With his new team, he could get in the act early on if Nick Chubb's recovery from a serious knee injury delays his 2024 season debut, but Jerome Ford likely still would be the team's top back in that scenario. |
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James Proche James Proche Re-signs with Cleveland
Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 2:47 PM
The Browns have re-signed Proche.
Analysis: While Proche didn't catch any of his five targets in 10 games with Cleveland during the 2023 regular season, the 2020 sixth-rounder did contribute on special teams by returning 22 punts for 197 yards as well as one kickoff for 19 yards. Now that he's back in the fold, Proche will have a chance to retain his depth WR/special teams role with the Browns in 2024. |
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Jerry Jeudy Jerry Jeudy Lands three-year extension
Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 1:56 PM
The Browns and Jeudy agreed to a three-year extension Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Prior to free agency opening last week, Cleveland acquired Jeudy from Denver for a pair of Day 3 picks in the 2024 Draft. The two sides then restructured his contract for the upcoming season, creating about $10 million in cap space. With this new deal, which includes $41 million in guaranteed money and up to $58 million overall, Jeudy is locked in through the 2027 campaign. Through four years as a pro, he's averaged 14.5 YPC and 8.6 YPT, amounting to 211 catches, 3.053 yards and 11 touchdowns in 57 games. Jeudy is slotted in as the No. 2 WR on the Browns behind Amari Cooper. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Could begin throwing Tuesday
Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 9:56 AM
Watson (shoulder) could begin light throwing as soon as Tuesday, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Watson will have limitations this spring after underdoing surgery Nov. 21 to repair a displaced fracture in his right shoulder socket, but the Browns expect him to be ready for training camp in late July. He's been rehabbing in Los Angeles, with private QBs coach Quincy Avery and Browns TE David Njoku flying out Monday to join him. While a fully guaranteed contract ensures Watson will get another chance as the starting QB after two disappointing seasons in Cleveland, the team has much better depth at his position for 2024 after signing Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley earlier in March. |
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Tyler Huntley Tyler Huntley Lands with Cleveland
Sun, Mar 17, 2024, 1:57 PM
Huntley agreed to a contract with the Browns on Sunday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Huntley will stick in the AFC North after serving as one of the primary backup quarterbacks behind Lamar Jackson in Baltimore over the past four seasons. The 26-year-old is set to join Cleveland on a veteran minimum deal, according to Tom Withers of the Associated Press. With four accrued seasons under Huntley's belt, this veteran minimum deal should carry a base value of one-year, $1.13 million. He'll likely compete with Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip) for the primary backup role behind starting quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder). |
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Elijah Moore Elijah Moore Joined by Jeudy in Cleveland
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 12:34 PM
Moore is one of three Browns wide receivers entering a contract year, along with Amari Cooper and recent acquisition Jerry Jeudy, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Analysis: The Browns traded for Moore last offseason and installed him in a significant role, but his 903 snaps and 104 targets led to just 640 yards and two touchdowns. While poor QB play was a part of that, Cooper and TE David Njoku produced much better efficiency stats in the same offense and are now joined by Jeudy as another threat to take a significant chunk of the targets. Moore may have missed his breakout opportunity, and it isn't entirely out of the question that David Bell or Cedric Tillman could push him for a spot in three-wide formations. |
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Jerry Jeudy Jerry Jeudy Agrees to restructure contract
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 10:19 AM
Jeudy and the Browns have agreed to a contract restructure to create more than $10 million in 2024 cap space, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The agreement presumably adds void years, given that Jeudy is scheduled to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract and there's been no report of an extension since the Broncos traded him to the Browns. He'll likely be the No. 2 receiver in Cleveland, slotting in behind Amari Cooper and ahead of Elijah Moore. It's unclear how Jeudy's snaps will be divided between the perimeter and slot, as it could be argued that he and Moore both are at their best working inside. |
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Giovanni Ricci Giovanni Ricci Joins Browns
Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 8:16 PM
Ricci (shoulder) and the Browns agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Ricci spent the last three seasons with the Panthers before the team decided to not tender him Friday and he'll now get a fresh start with the Browns. The 27-year-old will have an opportunity to operate in an offense that includes Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb (knee) and Amari Cooper, amongst others. |
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Jameis Winston Jameis Winston Slated to back up Watson
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 2:08 PM
Winston has agreed to a one-year contract with the Browns, Jake Trotter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The 30-year-old spent the past four seasons with the Saints, making 10 starts, and he's now set to replace Joe Flacco as the Browns' No. 2 quarterback behind Deshaun Watson. Winston, the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, gives Cleveland an experienced veteran option to turn to should Watson -- who is bouncing back from a season-ending shoulder issue -- encounter any further injury issues in 2024. |
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Nyheim Hines Nyheim Hines Joining Cleveland backfield
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 10:45 AM
Hines (knee) is slated to sign a one-year deal with the Browns, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The report indicates that Hines' deal is worth up to $3.5 million. The 27-year-old is attempting to bounce back from a left ACL injury that he sustained last July and which cost him the entire 2023 season. When healthy, Hines should provide the Browns backfield with an experienced pass-catching/change-of-pace option, while also adding utility as a kick returner. |
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Jerry Jeudy Jerry Jeudy Traded to Cleveland
Sat, Mar 9, 2024, 11:39 AM
Jeudy was traded to the Browns on Saturday for a 2024 fifth-round and sixth-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The move clears close to $13 million in cap space for the Broncos, who have been in a complete roster teardown after a disappointing campaign under new head coach Sean Payton. This marks the third consecutive year the Browns have acquired a wide receiver via trade, with Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore coming to Cleveland in subsequent offseasons. While Cooper, the former Cowboys pass catcher, has certainly lived up to his billing, Moore likely will be pushed aside as the No. 3 target with the acquisition of Jeudy, who enters with a chance to change his career arc after four largely ho-hum seasons in Denver. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb May be asked to renegotiate
Tue, Feb 20, 2024, 4:19 PM
The Browns want to keep Chubb (knee) but might consider releasing him this offseason if the two sides can't agree on a new contract, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic.
Analysis: Chubb probably wouldn't like the idea of taking a pay cut for the final year of his contract, as he mostly outplayed the terms of the deal before suffering an ACL tear in September. An extension would allow the Browns to lower his $15.83 million cap hit and $11.78 million base salary for 2024 without forcing Chubb to take a straight-up pay cut, though the team might be hesitant to offer significant guarantees to a 28-year-old RB coming back from a severe injury. GM Andrew Berry said in January that the Browns intend to bring Chubb back for 2024, one way or another. |
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