Now playing in his contract season, Browns running back Isaiah Crowell indicated he thinks about a new deal “during the game, after the game, before the game, right now, all the time,” as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets. A restricted free agent, Crowell is earning $2.746MM after Cleveland tendered him at the second-round level. The Browns reportedly discussed an extension with the 24-year-old back during the summer, but no pact was ever signed. Thus far in 2017, Crowell is averaging just 2.6 yards per carry on 27 rushes.
Nearly three-quarters of NFL teams are in the win column this year while nine teams still in search of their first W. However, starting out 0-2 is not a death sentence. In each of the last four seasons, at least one 0-2 team has made the playoffs. In 2015, two teams (the Texans and Seahawks) both made the postseason, despite an 0-2 start to the year.
In the spirit of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we want to know which team you think will turn over a new leaf starting in Week 3. Here’s the rundown:
Chicago Bears
The Bears took the defending NFC champion Falcons to the brink in Week 1, and though Week 2’s contest against the Buccaneers wasn’t as close, Chicago has shown signs of life. Rookie running back Tarik Cohen has emerged as a threat in the passing game following injuries to wideouts Cameron Meredith and Kevin White, and he could potentially former a thunder-and-lightning combination with Jordan Howard. Signal-caller Mike Glennon is 18th in quarterback rating and 22nd in adjusted net yards per attempt, so the calls for No. 2 overall selection Mitch Trubisky could come quickly.
Cincinnati Bengals
Moreso than any other team on this list, the Bengals have acted quickly to rectify their early-season woes, firing offensive coordinator Ken Zampese after they failed to score a touchdown in either of their first two games. Things won’t get any easier when Cincinnati travels to Green Bay in Week 3, but perhaps new offensive play-caller Bill Lazor will further implement rookies John Ross and Joe Mixon into the club’s gameplan. Additionally, Lazor will reportedly seek to install a quicker offense that will alleviate the Bengals’ offensive line concerns.
Cleveland Browns
2017 had always been viewed as another rebuilding season for the Browns, but Cleveland has been relatively competitive through two games (especially in Week 1, when it lost to Pittsburgh by only a field goal). A supposedly revamped offensive line still ranks near the bottom of the league in both run blocking and pass protection, and the Browns will need continued improvement from quarterback DeShone Kizer if they hope to compete this year. A broken hand for Corey Coleman — and a disappointing start by veteran pass-catcher Kenny Britt — aren’t helping matters, but a return from No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett could spark Cleveland’s defense.
Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck won’t practice this week, and although the Colts had been eyeing an early October return for their star quarterback, it’s beginning to seem like it could be longer before we see Luck back on the field. If Indianapolis continues to struggle, will the Colts even bother with putting Luck back into the lineup? General manager Chris Ballard made a handful of low-cost defensive additions this offseason, and if No. 1 cornerback Vontae Davis gets healthy, the unit could mesh. But nothing will matter unless Luck can supplant Jacoby Brissett within the next few weeks.
Los Angles Chargers
The Chargers got smashed this week for being unable to fill a soccer stadium for their season opener. We’ll admit that it wasn’t a good look, but things will improve if they start winning and there is reason to believe that can happen soon. The Chargers are winless, but they lost to the Broncos and Dolphins by a combined total of five points. If rookie kicker Younghoe Koo had connected on one of his two missed attempts against Miami or if his 44-yard try against the Broncos was not blocked, the Chargers wouldn’t be on this list.
New Orleans Saints
A top-ten offense and a bottom-two defense by DVOA? We must be talking about the Saints. New Orleans hasn’t started out the season with the easiest schedule in facing the Vikings and Patriots, but improvement on the health front could help their offense in the coming weeks. Left tackle Terron Armstead is reportedly ahead of schedule, and his return could allow rookie Ryan Ramczyk to move to the right side to cover for the injured Zach Strief. Receiver Willie Snead, too, will come back in Week 4 following a suspension. Solutions on defense are less obvious, but development from young players such as corner Marshon Lattimore and linebacker Alex Anzalone is a start.
New York Giants
The Giants have limped out of the gate and head coach Ben McAdoo may be thinking about giving up play calling duties. That’s not the only change that could be coming on offense. Second-year pro Paul Perkins has been averaging just 1.9 yards per carry and the Giants could shake things up by handing things over to Orleans Darkwa, who has 5.2 yards per attempt in a smaller sample size. In theory, that could spark Eli Manning and the passing game, but the offensive line will have to do a better job of protecting its quarterback in order to move the chains.
New York Jets
Wait, wait – hear us out. Yes, the Jets are behind the 8-ball after losing wide receiver Quincy Enunwa for the season and cutting valuable vets like Eric Decker and David Harris. However, they kept the score close in their Week 1 game against the rival Bills and things didn’t get too out of hand against the Raiders until a muffed punt late in the first half. Next up, the Jets have a home date with the Lawrence Timmons-less Dolphins followed by a pair of (dare we say) winnable games against the Browns and Jaguars. We know you won’t pick the Jets, but we hope we at least gave you something to think about.
San Francisco 49ers
Brian Hoyer has been dreadful in his first two games under center for SF and the Niners are hoping that he’ll do better on Thursday night against the Rams. If San Francisco is lucky, defensive tackle Aaron Donald will still be shaking the rust off on national television. However, even if they are able to avoid an 0-3 start, the odds are probably still against this rebuilding club in 2017.
So what do you think? Which of these nine clubs has the best chance to rebound from its poor start in order to earn a postseason berth? Vote in the poll below!
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Philip Wheeler
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Ravens‘ practice squad: CB Reggie Porter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on NFI: OL Chris Hairston
- Signed off Titans‘ practice squad: OL Tyler Marz
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted to active roster: DT David Parry
- Placed on IR: DT Mitchell Loewen
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted to active roster: WR Zach Pascal
- Placed on IR: LB Aaron Wallace
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has made “huge progress” in his recovery from a high ankle sprain and is “close” to returning to the field, head coach Hue Jackson told reporters, including Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). However, Jackson wouldn’t commit to Garrett being available for Sunday’s Week 3 contest against the Colts.
[RELATED: Browns Place Corey Coleman On IR]
Without Garrett in tow, the Browns rank just 25th in defensive DVOA and 22nd in scoring. Clearly, Garrett alone won’t cure Cleveland’s defensive woes, but he should be able to improve the club’s adjusted sack rate of 4.4%, which ranks 25th in the NFL. Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, and Nate Orchard have played as the Browns’ edge defenders, but all three have earned below average grades from Pro Football Focus.
Garrett, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2017 draft, also dealt with a foot injury this summer and had a history of foot issues during his time at Texas A&M.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL Taniela Tupou
- Released: RB Jhurell Pressley
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Keyarris Garrett
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Mike Purcell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DL Tyrone Holmes, WR Jordan Leslie, DL Jhaustin Thomas
- Released: DB Najee Murray, DB Channing Stribling
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: S Jameill Showers
- Released: G Nate Theaker
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.
- Released: WR Fred Brown
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Jaydon Mickens
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB George Atkinson, CB Keith Reaser, DT Daniel Ross
- Released: DL Rickey Hatley, CB Taurean Nixon
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Geremy Davis
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Bradley Sylve
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Claude Pelon
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Tyvis Powell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB David Rivers
- Released: CB Jonathan Moxey
The Browns have officially placed Corey Coleman on injured reserve, the club announced today.
Coleman, a second-year pro, has suffered a broken hand in each of the last two seasons. The injury will likely keep him on the shelf for six-to-eight weeks, so an IR stint was the logical move for Cleveland.
In ten games last year, the former first-round pick had 33 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns. When he was at his best, Coleman was one of the few bright spots for the Browns during a trying year. The Browns were hoping for a reprise this year, particularly because high-priced free agent Kenny Britt has been struggling.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
- The Browns will likely place receiver Corey Coleman on injured reserve on Tuesday, tweets Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald. Coleman, who broke his hand for the second time in as many seasons, will likely need six-to-eight weeks to recover, so he’ll likely be one of Cleveland’s two IR/designated to return players. That would allow Coleman to return to practice in six weeks and see the field in eight. The Browns will lean on Rashard Higgins, Kasen Williams, and Kenny Britt in Coleman’s absence.
Andrew Luck is still on the mend. The Colts quarterback won’t be ready in time for Sunday’s game against the Browns, meaning that Jacoby Brissett will draw the start yet again. 
There is still no timetable for Luck’s return, but coach Chuck Pagano told reporters that he has no doubt that Luck will play again this season.
Brissett, acquired in early September in a trade with the Patriots, was given the Week 2 start despite having a very limited period of time in which to learn the playbook. He fared better than Scott Tolzien did in the season opener, but Indy still lost 16-13 to the Cardinals in OT. Brissett completed 20 of his 37 passes for 216 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
After Sunday’s game against Cleveland, the Colts head to Seattle to take on the Colts in Week 4.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
A broken hand in September 2016 sidetracked Corey Coleman‘s rookie season, and some eerie similarities may have the Browns receiving corps in trouble again.
Tests confirmed that Coleman has suffered another broken hand, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Coleman left Sunday’s game early in the fourth quarter after a painful collision with Ravens corner Marlon Humphrey.
A 2016 first-round pick, Coleman again serves as a key component for the rebuilding Browns. Kenny Britt has struggled to acclimate thus far for his new team, and the Browns do not possess much receiving depth beyond those two talents. Coleman caught just one pass for nine yards against the Ravens.
Last season’s broken hand, which occurred during practice, shelved Coleman for six weeks, derailing a potentially promising season after the Baylor product started strong. He returned to play and finished with a 10-game season, hauling in 33 receptions for 413 yards and three touchdowns.
The Browns did trade for Sammie Coates and claimed Seahawks preseason standout Kasen Williams on waivers. Second-year player Rashard Higgins led Cleveland in receiving on Sunday. The Browns will likely move to add another receiver to the fold, but they’ll be hard-pressed to find one with as much upside as Coleman at this stage of the year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will be out of rehab on September 21, former Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery tells Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Montgomery, who has been working with Gordon for the last six months, says that Gordon is hoping to have the indefinite suspension lifted soon after he is released. 
Gordon has had multiple problems with the league office, so it’s not clear if commissioner Roger Goodell would allow him to return to football right away. At minimum, one has to imagine that the NFL will want to see if Gordon can stay on the straight and narrow for a period of time before giving him the green light. If that’s the case, we might not see Gordon suit up in 2017.
If Gordon is allowed back in football, the Browns will have a tough decision to make. While Gordon is one of the league’s most talented receivers, he may not be a fit for Hue Jackson‘s locker room. Jackson said last year he was ready to move on from the 26-year-old, but he seemed at least open to his return when asked about him in May.
“He’s not back, so I don’t even want to really get into that right now,” Jackson said. “I wish Josh well, and we’ll cross all those bridges when we get there.”
When asked about Gordon’s status, a league spokesman told PFT that there is “no update” at this time. That means that Gordon has yet to file for reinstatement, which makes sense considering that he is still in rehab. When Gordon was denied reinstatement this offseason, the league informed him that he could reapply in the fall, so he could get the ball rolling soon.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.