Browns Promote LB Willie Harvey Jr.
Willie Harvey Jr. has been promoted to the NFL. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Browns have elevated the rookie linebacker from the practice squad.
The 23-year-old had a standout career at Iowa State, and some pundits projected the linebacker to be a late-round pick. However, Harvey Jr. ended up going undrafted in the 2019 draft, and he subsequently caught on with Cleveland.
The 230-pound defender had a solid preseason for the Browns, compiling 10 tackles and one pass defended, but he was waived by the team in late August. He quickly caught on with Cleveland’s practice squad.
Browns starting linebacker Christian Kirksey is seeking opinions on a torn bicep, and he’s already been ruled out for this weekend’s game against the Rams. While one of Malik Jefferson, Sione Takitaki, or Mack Wilson will likely get the first crack at the starting gig, Harvey Jr. could find himself making his NFL debut tomorrow night.
Browns Place TE David Njoku On IR
The Browns have placed tight end David Njoku on injured reserve, according to a team announcement. Njoku suffered a broken wrist in Monday night’s win over the Jets and doctors have determined that he will need a good amount of time to recover. 
Because Njoku will not have surgery, the possibility remains that he will be able to return later on this season. Per league rules, the tight end will be forced to miss a minimum of eight weeks.
In his two games this season, Njoku registered four receptions for 37 yards and one touchdown. In 2018, he had 639 receiving yards and four touchdowns on the year. Many were anticipating another step forward in ’19, but the Browns will have to wait at least another two months before getting another look at him.
Without Njoku, the Browns will turn to Demetrius Harris, Ricky Seals-Jones, and Pharaoh Brown to fill in for the 23-year-old. It’s also likely that Baker Mayfield will look more in the direction of wide receiver Jarvis Landry now that there is one less mouth to be fed.
To take his place on the roster, the Browns have claimed defensive back Juston Burris off waivers from the Raiders. In 38 career games, Burris has 29 tackles, two picks, and seven passes defensed to his credit.
Browns Promote CB Robert Jackson From Practice Squad
Robert Jackson, come on down. The Browns, who are dealing with injuries to several of their top corners, have promoted Jackson from the practice squad, the team announced.
Both Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams are dealing with hamstring injuries, and their availability for Cleveland’s Week 3 showdown with the Rams on Sunday night is in doubt. That could spell trouble given Los Angeles’ potentially explosive aerial attack, and while Jackson likely won’t be the guy the Browns turn to, he could play a support role and contribute on special teams if he’s activated.
Jackson, who signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of UNLV last May, spent six weeks of the 2018 season and the first two weeks of the 2019 campaign on the Browns’ practice squad. He appeared in all four of the team’s preseason contests this year, recording six defensive tackles and two special teams tackles. He takes the roster spot of Elijah McGuire, who was waived yesterday.
To fill Jackson’s spot on the taxi squad, the Browns brought back fellow CB Donnie Lewis.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/19
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: RB Eli McGuire
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Evan Baylis
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: OL Bryan Witzmann
Minnesota Vikings
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DE Ade Aruna
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: DB Juston Burris
NFL Workout Updates: 9/18/19
Here is Wednesday’s latest from the workout circuit:
Cleveland Browns
- QB Joe Callahan, QB Eric Dungey, RB Keith Ford, WR Keith Mumphery, WR Damoun Patterson
Miami Dolphins
- DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, S Kentrell Brice, S Su’a Cravens, S Deiondre’ Hall, S Doug Middleton
Oakland Raiders
- WR Emanuel Hall, DB Sean Harper, CB De’Vante Harris, LB Matthew Thomas
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Marcus Applefield, OL Jaryd Jones-Smith, OL Kyle Murphy
Browns’ David Njoku Suffers Broken Wrist
In addition to the concussion David Njoku suffered Monday night, the Browns tight end also may face the prospect of a lengthy absence because of a wrist injury.
Njoku is seeking medical opinions on his wrist, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com noting (via Twitter) surgery is not out of the question. However, the first medical diagnosis is not good, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (via Twitter) Njoku suffered a broken wrist and will miss at least a month. Anthony Lima of 92.3 The Fan first reported the wrist injury, which the Akron Beacon Journal’s Nate Ulrich notes occurred on the same play as Njoku’s concussion (Twitter link).
The 2017 first-round pick has not yet determined if he will undergo surgery, but this is a major blow to his third season. Njoku posted 639 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2018. He resides as a key part of a much-hyped Cleveland offense. The Browns signed former Chiefs second-stringer Demetrius Harris in March and recently added ex-Cardinals starter Ricky Seals-Jones.
This would stand to deprive Baker Mayfield of another weapon going into perhaps the Browns’ biggest regular-season game this decade. It will at least be the one with the widest audience, with the Rams traveling to Cleveland for Week 3’s Sunday-night game. Rashard Higgins missed Monday night’s game with an injury, and Antonio Callaway is out until Week 5. Njoku missing Sunday, which now seems likely, stands to place additional burden on the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/17/19
Here are Tuesday’s updates from the workout circuit, all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter unless otherwise noted.
Atlanta Falcons
- LB Carroll Phillips (per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, on Twitter)
Cleveland Browns
- T Dino Boyd, G Colby Gossett, G Malcolm Pridgeon (Twitter links via Balzer and the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson)
Dallas Cowboys
- T Paul Adams, WR Quincy Adeboyejo, CB Deante Burton, DT Justin Hamilton, DE Willie Henry, LB Jawaun Johnson, S Josh Jones, WR DaMarkus Lodge, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer)
Detroit Lions
- RB Benny Cunningham, RB Quinton Flowers, DE Durrant Miles, CB Marcus Sherels, LB James Vaughters (link)
Green Bay Packers
- WR Keon Hatcher, RB Bo Scarbrough, RB Austin Walter, DL Anthony Zettel (Twitter links)
Indianapolis Colts
- T Gerhard deBeer, Christian DiLauro, Brandon Hitner, C James Murray (link)
New Orleans Saints
- LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, QB J.T. Barrett, TE Crockett Gillmore, WR Krishawn Hogan, TE Gabe Holmes, QB Chad Kanoff, WR Jordan Matthews, TE Brian Parker, LB Brian Peters, LB Malcolm Smith, WR Deonte Thompson, QB Phillip Walker (link)
New York Jets
- LB B.J. Bello, CB Jordan Brown, CB Nigel Harris, CB Joshua Holsey, Shakial Taylor, CB Ahmad Thomas (link)
Oakland Raiders
- WR Jamal Custis (Twitter link via Wilson)
San Francisco 49ers
- LS Jon Condo, LS Garrison Sanborn, LS Drew Scott, T Sam Young (Twitter links via Balzer and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Malik Carney, CB Jeremy Clark, S Adrian Colbert, DT Lyndon Johnson, CB Greg Mabin, CB Duke Thomas (link)
Washington Redskins
- RB Josh Ferguson, RB De’Angelo Henderson (Twitter links via Rapoport and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo)
Browns Place Drew Stanton On IR
Sunday marked a rough day for high-profile starting quarterbacks, sending less seasoned backups into the fray. Browns backup quarterback Drew Stanton has made more career starts than Baker Mayfield, but the team will boast far less experience at its signal-caller spot going forward.
The Browns placed Stanton on IR Monday, using his roster spot to sign running back Elijah McGuire. Stanton is dealing with a knee injury and will now be out a minimum of eight weeks.
The only other quarterback on Cleveland’s active roster at present is Garrett Gilbert, a 2014 sixth-round pick who has played in just one regular-season game. Gilbert played in the Alliance of American Football this year and signed with the Browns in April.
Gilbert played well during the Browns’ preseason slate, but Freddie Kitchens squashed any idea he would usurp Stanton. Gilbert went to the same high school as Mayfield (Lake Travis in Austin, Texas) and played for Texas and SMU in college. He will now be the primary backup to Mayfield, though the Browns could obviously opt to pursue a better-known option while Stanton is out.
Teams can bring two players off IR each season. The Browns do not have any high-profile players on IR yet, so Stanton could be a candidate to re-emerge on the roster later this season.
Browns Sign RB Eli McGuire
The Browns signed running back Elijah McGuire, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. McGuire will provide roster depth as a fill-in for Dontrell Hilliard, who has been ruled out with a concussion for tonight’s game against the Jets. 
Of course, while McGuire’s there, the Browns just might pump him for intel. McGuire spent the last couple of seasons with the Jets, up until his recent release.
The tailback drew solid reviews in Jets practice over the last two years, but his career 3.3 yards per carry average isn’t much to write home about. He’ll hope for an opportunity to break through in Cleveland, where he sits behind Nick Chubb and D’Ernest Johnson.
AFC Notes: Jaguars, Patriots, Randall
The Jaguars will be without several players on Sunday against the Texans, Michael DiRocco of ESPN recaps on Twitter. S Ronnie Harrison is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. CB A.J. Bouye, WR Marqise Lee, DE Yannick Ngakoue and LT Cam Robinson have all already been ruled out of the contest.
Last week, Jacksonville lost starting QB Nick Foles, who suffered a broken left clavicle in Week 1 and has been placed on injured reserve. The franchise’s collective health has put a damper on what should have been a bounceback year for the Jags. As the team carries on in Houston, let’s take a look around the AFC:
- The Patriots worked out several players ahead of their game against the Dolphins, a source tells Nick Underhill of The Athletic (Twitter link). OT Caleb Benenoch, NT Carl Davis, DT Willie Henry, DB Josh Jones and DB Adarius Pickett worked out for New England.
- Browns S Damarious Randall has been ruled out of Monday’s game, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Randall showed up to Cleveland’s facility with a concussion and was placed in the concussion protocol.
- A.J. Green, who injured his ankle during the Bengals‘ training camp, is out of his walking boot and feels like is he ahead of schedule in his recovery, as Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer relays. “I’m only six weeks out and I’m already walking,” Green said. “You never know what the next two weeks or three weeks are going to bring to where I can start back putting on shoes and actually running and doing some on the field stuff. You never know.”