Latest On Browns, Duke Johnson
- Duke Johnson‘s agent was in Berea, Ohio, this week to discuss his client’s complicated situation with the Browns. Drew Rosenhaus met with John Dorsey and assistant GM Eliot Wolf, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes. Dorsey maintains the Browns are not going to trade Johnson, who has requested to be dealt out of Cleveland. For now, the passing-down back remains sidelined with a hamstring injury — one that could keep him out “a little while,” Cabot adds.
AFC North Notes: Josh Johnson, Ravens, Kareem Hunt
With the news that Ravens backup quarterback Robert Griffin would miss time with a fractured bone on his thumb, the team worked out free agent quarterback Josh Johnson, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted.
A journeyman signal-caller over the last decade, Johnson has suited up in the regular season with five teams — Buccaneers, Browns, Bengals, 49ers and Redskins — but has been a part of numerous others. He received an extended look under center with Washington in 2018, when he started three games and threw for 590 yards and three touchdowns.
A mobile QB, Johnson fits Baltimore’s run-heavy attack and has worked under Harbaugh in the past. Johnson reportedly had ankle surgery in March, so assuming he receives a clean bill of health during his workout, the veteran makes plenty of sense to work under second-year signal-caller Lamar Jackson.
Here’s more from around the AFC North:
- Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam addressed the media about Kareem Hunt, stating that talks are still ongoing with the league and players association regarding the team’s attempt to have Hunt remain with the team through the upcoming eight-game suspension, the Akron Beacon Journal’s Nate Ulrich tweeted, Dee Haslam also noted Hunt has to work really hard to be a part of the Browns and that it’s up to him, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot tweeted.
- Sticking in Cleveland, second-year defensive end Chad Thomas gave the middle finger to a fan who heckled Thomas to hustle on Sunday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Coach Freddie Kitchens addressed the incident, saying that if the two of them had a conversation it would stay between them. “Of course, Chad Thomas, as you guys see, he is very emotional, a passionate guy. I want those guys to play with passion, but he is also a young guy so he has to understand and develop a sense of when to move on. I think he will learn.” Since it was not done during a game, the Browns instead of the NFL will handle any type of punishment.
- Steelers safety Sean Davis suffered a finger injury that could possibly be a dislocation, coach Mike Tomlin said [Tweet via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler]. Davis has started 31 of a possible 32 games the past two seasons in Pittsburgh, registering four interceptions and 15 pass breakups.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/19
Here are today’s minor moves. We will update this post as necessary throughout the day:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: C John Yarbrough
- Waived: C Lo Falemaka
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Keith Ford
- Waived: RB Aca’Cedric Ware
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Malachi Dupre, WR Jordan Smallwood
- Waived/injured: WR Dylan Cantrell, WR Fred Trevillion
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: RB James Butler
- Waived: RB Chris Warren
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: QB Vincent Testaverde
Duke Johnson To Miss Time With Hamstring Injury
- Browns RB Duke Johnson suffered a hamstring injury Saturday, and ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that the ailment could force Johnson to miss some time (Twitter link). That will not help the fifth-year back in his quest to get traded out of Cleveland.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/19
Today’s minor transactions:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB A.J. Ouellette
- Waived: OT Ka’John Armstrong
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Moral Stephens
- Waived: P Justin Vogel
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers from Bengals: RB Darrin Hall
- Waived: OG Larry Williams
Houston Texans
- Waived: S A.J. Hendy
- Waived/injured: WR Isaac Whitney
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Amba Etta-Tawo
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Waived: DT Anthony Rush
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Jordan Thompson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Jawuan Johnson
Tennesse Titans
- Signed: DB Jonathan Crawford
More Visits In Store For Mike Daniels
Like Gerald McCoy‘s did, Mike Daniels‘ visit with the Browns ended without a contract. The recently released defensive lineman, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, left the team’s facility without a deal (Twitter link).
While an earlier report indicated Daniels had a visit set up for Friday, with a mystery team, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot hears the longtime Packers defender has an extensive tour planned. Daniels will make “numerous” visits and will not decide on a team Thursday, Cabot reports (on Twitter).
The Browns make sense for Daniels to a point. John Dorsey and fellow team execs Alonzo Highsmith and Eliot Wolf were in Green Bay when Daniels was drafted in the 2012 fourth round. However, Cleveland signed Sheldon Richardson to a lucrative deal this offseason and has emerging defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi in place. Daniels would be a luxury the Browns ($34MM-plus in cap space) could afford, but the 30-year-old interior defender may prefer a team with a surefire starting role available.
McCoy opted for the Panthers’ offer over the Browns’ and Ravens’ proposals. It is not known yet if the Ravens are interested in Daniels. But there appears to be some interest from the league’s non-Cleveland locales. The football-following world stands to soon learn who Daniels will visit Friday, and it looks like there will be more meetings in the days to follow.
Browns Meet With Mike Daniels
The Browns are set to meet with free agent Mike Daniels, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Daniels is a logical fit for Cleveland given their Packers connections, but the defensive tackle plans to travel to meet with another team on Friday, Mike Florio of PFT (Twitter link) hears.
The Browns’ front office, spearheaded by GM John Dorsey, drafted Daniels in Green Bay. The Browns also tried to sign defensive tackle Gerald McCoy before he opted for the Panthers, so there’s a clear need and fit for the veteran in Cleveland.
The Packers released Daniels earlier this week after failing to trade him. In an interview with WBAY, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst indicated that a deal was close, but couldn’t be completed.
“There’s a few factors involved in that. Mike was rehabbing from a foot injury suffered during the season and I think also there was some — quite frankly there was some trade conversations going on and those kind of came apart the last couple of weeks here and that was part of it,” Gutekunst said.
Browns Interested In Mike Daniels; Latest On Duke Johnson, Kareem Hunt
- Before the Packers cut Mike Daniels earlier today, they discussed potential trades with the Browns, Patriots, and Chiefs, per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (video link). Garafolo suggests those teams will continue to pursue Daniels, but at least seven clubs have already been in contact with him.
- Browns GM John Dorsey confirmed that he met with Duke Johnson‘s new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, on Tuesday, but Dorsey declined to say whether Johnson is still demanding a trade (via Josina Anderson of ESPN.com on Twitter). In related news, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports RB Kareem Hunt will miss the start of training camp with a groin injury, though the injury is not believed to be serious.
Latest On Browns, Duke Johnson
The Browns met with agent Drew Rosenhaus on Tuesday to discuss Duke Johnson‘s situation, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). With Nick Chubb ahead of him and Kareem Hunt set to leapfrog him after an eight-game suspension, Johnson has demanded a trade to a team that will give him a featured role. 
So far, the Browns have held firm, stating publicly that they will keep the pass-catching specialist. Johnson, meanwhile, reported to minicamp in June, but his recent switch to Rosenhaus indicates that he wants to take a strong stand.
Rosenhaus has a solid working relationship with the Browns, as evidenced by the Emmanuel Ogbah trade earlier this year. Working with GM John Dorsey, Rosenhaus was able to get Ogbah to the Chiefs, where he’ll see plenty of playing time after Dee Ford‘s departure.
Browns training camp kicks off on Wednesday.
Browns Work Out Arie Kouandjio, Cyrus Kouandjio
The Browns are working out a pair of brothers in free agency. Guard Arie Kouandjio and tackle Cyrus Kouandjio will audition for the team on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Cyrus showed some promise with the Bills, but he was waived in 2017 after an odd off-field incident in which he was found partially undressed in a field near the scene of a car accident. The former second-round pick spent some time with the Broncos in 2017 and 2018, but hasn’t had a real opportunity to showcase himself in years.
Arie, meanwhile, appeared in 17 games for the Redskins between 2015 and 2017. Unfortunately, a torn quadriceps muscle wiped out his 2018 season before it even began. Before the injury, Kouandjio was said to be performing well on the practice field and figured to be a staple in the rotation on Washington’s interior line.