Browns Waive Kicker Ross Martin
The Browns’ kicking job appears to belong to Zane Gonzalez. On Tuesday, the Browns waived kicker Ross Martin, along with five others.
Gonzalez nailed a 54-yard field goal in Thursday night’s preseason win over the Eagles, and that may have given him the leg up. Despite some misses in Sunday’s practice, Gonzalez edged out Martin.
“Obviously, Gonzo kicked a 54-yarder” coach Hue Jackson said this week (via Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal). “That was huge. Today, he missed a couple. We will go back and watch the tape. I still think that he is in the lead.”
In addition to Martin, wide receiver Evan Berry, defensive lineman Marcell Frazier, and offensive linemen Kevin Bowen and Geoff Gray. The Browns also released tight end Julian Allen from injured reserve.
Browns To Sign OL Earl Watford
The Browns have signed offensive lineman Earl Watford, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Watford was released by the Bears earlier this week, making him a free agent. 
The former fourth-round Cardinals pick signed with the Bears in April and was expected to have a shot at the starting lineup. Unfortunately, things did not pan out that way for him, despite Kyle Long‘s injury history and the departure of Josh Sitton.
Watford started nine games for the Cards last season and eleven in 2016. Pro Football Focus has graded Watford as one of the worst full-time blockers in the game over the past two seasons, but the 28-year-old has made 22 starts over the past three years in spite his so-so performance.
The Browns’ need for depth on the offensive line has been well documented, especially in light of Spencer Drango‘s preseason struggles. Watford can also fill in for rookie Austin Corbett if he struggles to adapt to the pro game.
Browns Notes: Mayfield, Dez, Gonzalez
This does not come as a great shock, but 2018 No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield will open the season as the Browns’ backup signal-caller, as Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald tweets (though head coach Hue Jackson wants to inform his team of his decision before making it official). It was always understood that Tyrod Taylor, whom the Browns acquired in an offseason trade with the Bills, would serve as the team’s starting quarterback at least until Mayfield is deemed ready, and we recently heard that Cleveland is allegedly open to extending Taylor’s contract (he is eligible for free agency at season’s end).
The decision to name Mayfield the No. 2 QB, then, is actually more about the battle between Mayfield and Drew Stanton — Jackson said last week that he was still undecided as to which player would serve as the backup — than the “battle” between Mayfield and Taylor. Stanton, the long-time second-stringer who signed a two-year pact with the Browns in March, will be the team’s No. 3 quarterback, assuming Cleveland elects to keep three QBs.
Now let’s take a look at several more notes out of Cleveland:
- Josh Gordon will not play in the Browns’ preseason finale due to hamstring discomfort, but Jackson says the embattled wideout — who is expected to be ready for Week 1 — is “getting close,” per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (via Twitter).
- In her weekly mailbag, Cabot says the Browns have not ruled out signing Dez Bryant, who recently rejected the team’s contract offer. She says Bryant liked the Browns and clearly the team had interest in him, so things could change at any time.
- Cabot also suggests in her mailbag that Shon Coleman, who was given the first chance to succeed Joe Thomas at left tackle, could well be on the roster bubble.
- Jackson says he “thinks” Zane Gonzalez is in the lead in the Browns’ kicking battle, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (via Twitter).
Hue Jackson Wants To Keep Six Wide Receivers
- Browns head coach Hue Jackson wants to keep six wide receivers on the team’s regular-season roster, as Steve Doerschuk of the Akron Beacon Journal writes. Josh Gordon, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, and Rashard Higgins make up four of those six wideouts, while sixth-round rookie Damion Ratley also stands a good chance. That means veteran Jeff Janis and relative unknowns Derrick Willies, Da’Mari Scott, and C.J. Board could be fighting it out for the last spot.
NFL Won't Discipline Josh Gordon
- Josh Gordon‘s back on the Browns‘ active roster after yet another stint away from the team. The Browns are preparing their mercurial weapon to play in Week 1, but he’ll likely miss Thursday’s preseason finale due to hamstring discomfort, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com tweets. Gordon looks to be in the clear as far as another NFL suspension goes, when it was once thought the league could discipline him for his camp absence because of the extensive substance abuse in the seventh-year receiver’s past. But Cabot reports the Browns are working alongside the NFL and Gordon’s medical team to bring him back to work. She adds (via Twitter) the NFL’s cleared Gordon and it will be up to the Browns to determine his participation going forward.
Browns Activate WR Josh Gordon From NFI List
Josh Gordon is back on the Browns active list. The team announced that the wide receiver has been activated from the non-football injury list and is eligible to participate in all football activities. Since the wideout was already on Cleveland’s 90-man roster, the team won’t have to make a corresponding roster move.
We heard yesterday that Gordon would begin participating in the Browns’ walkthrough portions of practice. It’s uncertain if the 27-year-old will be ready to go for the season opener against the Steelers, but participating in practice is certainly an encouraging step. The receiver returned to the Browns last week after taking part in a health and treatment plan earlier in the preseason.
The 27-year-old has only played in 10 games since 2014, but he was productive following his return to the Browns last season. In five games (five starts), Gordon hauled in 18 receptions for 335 yards and one touchdown. The receiver’s best season came in 2013, when he compiled 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine scores.
After trading former first-rounder Corey Coleman earlier this month, the Browns receiver depth is questionable behind offseason addition Jarvis Landry. If Gordon ends up missing any regular season time, the Browns will have to turn to two of Antonio Callaway, Rashard Higgins, Jeff Janis, and Damion Ratley for starting gigs. The uncertainty surrounding Gordon led the Browns to consider Dez Bryant, but a deal seems unlikely.
AFC Notes: Browns, Taylor, Bryant
Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor has dislocated the pinky on his non-throwing hand, as Andrew Gribble of the Browns’ website tweets. While his left hand is bruised and sore, head coach Hue Jackson says “he’s going to be fine.”
It sounds like Taylor will be alright for the season opener, so we won’t be seeing Baker Mayfield out there – at least, not yet.
Here’s more from the AFC North:
- It’s unlikely that the Ravens will make a second run at Dez Bryant or another veteran receiver, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes. Chris Moore has nailed down his spot as the Ravens‘ fourth wide receiver behind Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead, so the Ravens appear to be set at the top of the order. There’s uncertainty beyond that, but Zrebiec feels the Ravens will not be motivated to get for a veteran WR unless one of their top three guys gets hurt.
- Nine teams are spending more than $50MM per year on their top three players, and the Steelers are one of three clubs in that group to have made the playoffs last season, Jason Fitzgerald of OTC writes. With $53.4MM carved out for Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and LeVeon Bell, the Steelers have found success with a top-heavy structure.
- The Bengals parted ways with defensive tackle Chris Baker.
Latest On Browns WR Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon‘s status for the season opener remains unclear, but the wide receiver is about to take an important step forward. Gordon will begin participating in the Browns’ walkthrough portion of practice, coach Hue Jackson told reporters on Friday. 
[RELATED: Dez Bryant Rejects Browns’ $5MM Offer]
Recently, Jackson expressed optimism that Gordon will be ready to go for Week 1. Gordon’s walkthrough participation guarantees nothing, but it’s an indicator that he is not far off from full participation in practice and, eventually, the season opener against the Steelers.
Gordon returned to the Browns last week after taking part in a health and treatment plan. While the league is monitoring his progress, they have not placed any restrictions on when Gordon can get resume all football activities with the club.
Gordon is an integral part of the Browns’ offense and the Browns are desperately hoping that he’ll get on the right path this year. The uncertainty surrounding Gordon led the Browns to consider Dez Bryant, but a deal seems unlikely, so having Gordon in uniform is now more important than ever.
Dez Bryant Rejects Browns’ Offer
The Browns offered Dez Bryant a deal, but it was not to his liking. The proposed contract was worth less than $5MM, a league source tells Mike Florio of PFT. 
By virtue of extending the deal, we know that the Browns are in fact interested in signing Bryant. However, that interest is not necessarily being reciprocated. Some in league circles believe that Bryant is waiting for an offer from a better team, Florio writes.
There could be any number of reasons for Bryant’s potential unwillingness to sign with the Browns. The wide receiver could be looking for a winning situation, which is less than assured with a team that has gone 1-31 over the lsat two years. Bryant may also have reservations about joining a stacked receiver group that includes Jarvis Landry, promising rookie Antonio Callaway, and (hopefully) Josh Gordon. Whatever the reason is, evidence is mounting that Bryant is hesitant about going to Cleveland.
While the sub-$5MM offer was not suitable for Bryant, no one knows exactly what the wide receiver is looking for. And, barring an injury to a star wide receiver, he might not get an opportunity to top that elsewhere.
Former Browns TE Randall Telfer Retires
Randall Telfer is calling it a career. On Friday, the free agent tight end announced his retirement via Twitter.
Telfer, 26, was a sixth-round pick of the Browns in 2015. After losing his would-be rookie season to injury, he appeared in 30 games for the Browns over the next two years, but recorded only 40 yards in total.
Telfer may be best known to PFR readers for the 2018 offseason trade that should have sent him from Cleveland to Kansas City. Unfortunately, Telfer failed his physical with the Chiefs, meaning that linebacker Dadi Nicolas was never shipped to the Browns (In case you were wondering, Nicolas is now pushing to make the Redskins’ final cut.)