Browns Promote WR Rashard Higgins, Waive DL Tyrone Holmes
The Browns have promoted wideout Rashard Higgins to their active roster, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Higgins, a 2016 fifth-round pick, was waived by Cleveland and subsequently signed to their practice squad in early September. To make room on the roster, the team is waiving defensive lineman Tyrone Holmes.
The 22-year-old appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, hauling in six receptions for 77 yards. The Colorado State product previously had a standout collegiate career, and he was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2014 after finishing the campaign with 96 receptions for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Browns already have plenty of depth at wide receiver, so it’s uncertain where Higgins fits in. The team is currently rostering six other wideouts, including Kenny Britt, Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Kasen Williams, Sammie Coates, and Reggie Davis.
Holmes, a 2016 sixth-round pick by the Jaguars, ultimately spent the majority of his rookie campaign in Cleveland. The 24-year-old finished that season with six tackles and one sack in 11 games. He appeared in the Browns’ season-opening loss to the Steelers but didn’t record a tackle or sack. The team is now relatively thin at defensive end, especially with rookie Myles Garrett set to miss Week 2. Besides the top-overall pick, the organization is now only rostering defensive ends Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, and Nate Orchard.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/15/17
The latest workouts from around the NFL (all links go to Twitter):
Cleveland Browns
- DEs Ian Seau, Jhaustin Thomas; CBs De’Chavon Hayes, Marcus Sayles, JaCorey Shepherd; LB Garrett Sickels (links via Adam Caplan of ESPN)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WRs Montay Crockett, Tim Patrick; Ps Matt Darr, Jordan Gay, Richie Leone, Austin Rehkow; QB Jerod Evans, Joel Stave; PKs Andrew Franks, Josh Lambo, Mike Meyer; LS Colin Holba (link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union)
Los Angeles Rams
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/17
Friday’s practice squad moves…
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Bucky Hodges
- Cut: WR Keyarris Garrett
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB C.J. Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE MyCole Pruitt
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Fred Brown
Johnny Manziel To Sign With CFL Team?
There were conflicting reports on how well Johnny Manziel did in his August audition for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Apparently, the quarterback performed well enough to garner real interest from the team. The expectation among other CFL clubs is that the league office will allow Hamilton to sign the former Texas A&M star, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) hears. JLC adds that he would be surprised if a signing does not happen. 
Hamilton holds Manziel’s CFL rights, which would theoretically pave the way for a deal. However, there have been whispers of the league effectively blackballing troubled players in the past. Depending on who you ask, Greg Hardy may have been blocked from signing with a team north of the border. League officials apparently will not stand in the way of Manziel making a return to the gridiron.
Manziel, 25 in December, has not been on the field since Dec. 27, 2015 when he was with the Browns. In eight career NFL starts, the former first-round choice completed 57% of his passes for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. His Browns went 2-6 in those games.
Browns, Rams Have NFL’s Youngest Teams
There’s definitely a youth movement in Cleveland and Los Angeles. According to data released by the NFL on Thursday, the Browns had an average age of 24.17 on their Week 1 roster, making them the league’s youngest team. The Rams – who are directed by the league’s youngest head coach – were not far behind with an average age of 25.11. 
As a whole, the game is younger than ever. This year, there a total of nine teams started the season with an average age less than 26. A few clubs are bucking the trend, however. The Cardinals had the “oldest” roster in the NFL with an average age of 27.47. Arizona had 14 players at the age of 30 or over, tying them for the league lead with the Ravens.
The league also compiled data on the colleges with the most players in the NFL. This year, Alabama and LSU tied for the lead with 39 each. LSU had sole leadership atop the perch from 2014-2016, but they now have the company of another SEC school.
A complete breakdown of every NFL team’s depth chart can be found at RosterResource.com.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/13/17
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR: RB Brandon Wilds
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted to active roster: OL Adam Pankey
Houston Texans
- Promoted to active roster: TE Evan Baylis
- Waived: WR Andy Jones
Minnesota Vikings
- Released from IR: TE Bucky Hodges
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: T John Theus
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR: RB Joe Bacci, DL Jimmy Staten
Browns Notes: Norwood, Jackson, Haden
Former NFL wide receiver Jordan Norwood has announced his retirement, tweets Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. Norwood, played in parts of five seasons with the Eagles, Browns, and — most recently — Broncos, totaling 79 receptions, 844 yards, and two touchdowns during that time. Norwood’s most notable NFL time came in Denver, with whom he won a Super Bowl in 2015. PFR extends it best wishes to Norwood in retirement.
- Responding to a report that he was “irate” at the Browns‘ decision to release cornerback Joe Haden, head coach Hue Jackson said he works in “lockstep” with Cleveland’s front office, reports Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). The Browns parted ways with Haden just before the season in a move that will cause them to absorb $10.9MM in dead money over the next two year. Playing against his old team as a member of the Steelers today, Haden graded as the NFL’s No. 53 cornerback among 75 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Hue Jackson Irate With Joe Haden's Release
- The CBS Sports scribe reports that Browns head coach Hue Jackson is “irate” with the team’s decision to release Joe Haden, and that Haden’s release has intensified the tensions between the coach and the front office, specifically GM Sashi Brown. Jackson is particularly angry because the release had no football merit and, in his view, was clearly a salary dump even though Cleveland could have easily carried Haden’s salary on its books (although it was reported that the Browns did at least try to trade Haden prior to cutting him). We have heard previously that Jackson would get every opportunity to right the ship in Cleveland, but given the apparently shaky relationship that he has with the club’s personnel department, that may not be the case.
Kevin Hogan Named Browns' Backup QB
Kevin Hogan will serve as the Browns‘ backup quarterback on Sunday instead of Cody Kessler, as head coach Hue Jackson explained to reporters, including Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. While the shifting of reserve signal-caller duties isn’t necessarily earth-shattering news on its own, Kessler’s demotion could potentially have after-effects. If Hogan shows well as Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback, Kessler would theoretically make for a relatively attractive trade candidate. Only 24 years old, Kessler started eight games and completed 65.6% of his passes as a rookie. The Browns, clearly, haven’t been afraid of dealing current assets for future picks.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: T Zach Sterup
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Hakeem Valles, WR Noel Thomas
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Dee Virgin
- Released: DE Daniel Ross
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Nick Dzubnar
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Jomal Wiltz
New Orleans Saints
- Released: DL Kristjan Sokoli
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: K Giorgio Tavecchio
- Released: LB Max Valles
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Kenny Lawler
- Released: WR Cyril Grayson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: T Justin Murray
- Placed on IR: T Marquis Lucas