Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin missed quite a bit of time during his second year in Cleveland, seeing two separate trips to the injured reserve. He spent three weeks on injured reserve after an elbow injury sidelined him in early November. In his first game back from injury, Conklin tore his patellar tendon and promptly returned to injured reserve for the rest of the season.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Conklin’s recovery is coming along quite well. While he remains off the field in OTAs, rehabbing on his own, and likely will be held off the field in mandatory minicamp, as well, Conklin is expected to be ready to practice at the start of training camp. He will likely be limited as camp opens up, but Conklin is expected to be ready to start once the Browns roll into Charlotte this September to open their season.
Here are a few more notes out of the AFC North, starting with another note from The Land:
- The Browns have a fairly full running backs room. Nick Chubb is the premier back with D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton serving complimentary roles and fifth-round draft pick Jerome Ford joining John Kelly in reserve roles for the position. Despite the wealth of potential contributors and the lack of certainty concerning his future going into a contract year, Kareem Hunt is viewed a valuable member of the Browns’ offense going into the season. According to Mary Kay Cabot, Hunt “is still very much in the Browns’ plans for this season” with no ideas of dealing or releasing the 26-year-old due to a lack of substantive extension discussions.
- Omar Khan was recently promoted to the role of general manager of the Steelers. He doesn’t have a strong background in personnel, but is well-versed on the way Pittsburgh operates. It appears that Khan had a plan in place to address that weaker section of his resume. According to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, Khan pushed for his hiring to be a sort of package deal including his good friend Andy Weidl, who served previously as the vice president of player personnel for the Eagles. Bringing in Weidl and pairing him with director of pro scouting Sheldon White, who has extensive league experience in player personnel, creates a strong trio of executives to start a new era in the Steel City.
why would kareem be anything less than second on the depth chart? that man is electric.
If Hunt wants to get paid he has to get off this team.
running backs don’t get paid.
Sure, it always sounds like a great deal for a team like the Steelers that the replacement they hired can’t actually do all of the job, so hire 3 guys and pay three salaries to do it. Unless, they are all splitting what the Steelers were paying Colbert of course.
Who cares what they are paying management? At least they brought in some people from outside to bring some fresh perspective to the process of evaluating players.
NFL front offices are usually made up of different skill sets. You think the average GM is a top level cap expert, statistical wiz, and tape grinding personnel guru all wrapped up in one?
I’ll go with the Rooneys business acumen over madmanTXs
also watched the Khan press conference. very happy with the choice.
the biggest issue with GMs is when they get in their own way, kind of how Jerry Jones was/is with the cowboys ,
or chip Kelly in Philly , or what Bill is becoming in New England
Colbert was great because he took all advice and every choice was a group decision with the HC and scouts input.
Khan seems like he’ll be similar. came across as very friendly , humble, and without any ego issues even after claiming one of the top jobs in football
How many of us actually watched Kyle Hamilton play last year ?
I saw more than 1 opinion that he was the best sure fire pick of the draft.
His falling to the Ravens was a gift to the city of Baltimore, but more than that what hurts is passing on Jones, a great prospect at a desperate position of need, only to now have to face him twice a year.
Same with Demarvin Leal, who they passed on when they added their 5th string running back and now will have to face twice a year.
The Browns went into the draft needing 3/4ths of its defensive line and left with a 4th string corner to add to the gaggle already on the roster.
They might have added depth to the Dline but I am not too sure they added a starter.
How many really slow, late 3rd round receivers ever contribute in their rookie season ?
This draft tells me that the Browns think their roster is pretty well set and presumably of a Super Bowl quality, two assertions I could easily pick apart.
How many of us actually watched Kyle Hamilton play last year ?
I saw more than 1 opinion that he was the best sure fire pick of the draft.
His falling to the Ravens was a gift to the city of Baltimore, but more than that what hurts is passing on Jones, a great prospect at a desperate position of need, only to now have to face him twice a year.
Same with Demarvin Leal, who they passed on when they added their 5th string running back and now will have to face twice a year.
The Browns went into the draft needing 3/4ths of its defensive line and left with a 4th string corner to add to the gaggle already on the roster.
They might have added depth to the Dline but I am not too sure they added a starter.
How many really slow, late 3rd round receivers ever contribute in their rookie season ?
This draft tells me that the Browns think their roster is pretty well set and presumably of a Super Bowl quality, two assertions I could easily pick apart..
The defense finished 5th overall last year with multiple injuries. They returned everyone but their defensive tackles who were the weak spot. They replaced them with Winfrey and the 1st round puck in 2018 from Jacksonville who I can’t think of his name. I’d say they at least stayed even. Watson will be a huge upgrade over the play of Mayfield last year which should help elevate the receiver room. Tough division and conference but talent wise they match up
Leal was a 3rd round pick Ford was a 5th you clearly have no clue what you are talking about
although safeties are becoming as undervalued as RBs,
it does seem that truly special talents like Minkah are worth the bread and draft position.
think Hamilton will end up being pretty worthy selection for the rat birds. Linderbaum was an excellent pick too.
never count out the ravens and steelers. both teams know how to draft and play up to their strengths to grind out each week.
I personally think Kenny was of great value at pick 20,
however even if he’s total garbage , the fact that they got potentially the best receiver in the draft round 2 (George Pickens), followed up by an extremely athletic DE who slipped to round 3 (Leal) is pretty incredible
Leal is not extremely athletic at all
everything I’ve seen on the 6’4 290 pounder is that he’s extremely agile with great footwork
his negatives are punching power and explosiveness
so in other words he’s extremely athletic and needs to do some squats
I just wanna get this straight then man,,,
if we’re looking at 290 lb guys ,,
you think a big mauler who’s a plus in force and strength would be considered more athletic than an agile guy with nimble feet?
what is your definition of athletic?
According to the rumor mill, the Jets are interested in acquiring Jack Conklin from Browns. The Jets figure they can save a bundle by having Jack and Tyler share one uniform.