Browns Unlikely To Sign Bryant, Matthews?
On Monday, the Browns learned that wide receiver Rashard Higgins will miss 2-4 weeks of action with a sprained MCL. Rishard Matthews will work out for the team today and could theoretically help to fill the void, but coach Hue Jackson says the Browns are inclined to stick with their current options. 
“We’ll see. I mean, I haven’t seen [GM] John [Dorsey] since I was down there earlier. But we’ll see how it unfolds. We have some good candidates here, and I like our guys that are here. So we’ll just see how it all unfolds as we go through the day,” Jackson said. “I feel like [backup receivers Rod Streater, Derrick Willies, and sixth-round rookie Damion Ratley] know our system, know exactly what we’re looking for and know how to come in and practice the way we do and understand what the opportunity would be for them, not that I wouldn’t like somebody else who could really play. But it’s just hard to find those kind of guys at this time, guys that can come in and really contribute right away just ’cause they haven’t practiced with you, don’t know the system. Guys that you have to get caught up to speed, sometimes it just doesn’t work out as well.”
Free agent receiver Dez Bryant, who was in talks with the Browns earlier this year, may face longer odds of joining the club. When asked about the ex-Cowboys star, Jackson said that he hasn’t discussed the possibility with Dorsey recently.
The Browns thinned out their receiver corps in September by trading Josh Gordon to the Patriots, but Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, and Higgins have been keeping the passing offense afloat. Even without Higgins, it sounds like the Browns are comfortable with the players they already have.
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 Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/17
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Tony McRae, C Matt Skura
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Eric Lee
- Released: S B.T. Sanders, CB Marcus Sayles
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: FB Alex Armah
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Ben Braunecker
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Rashard Higgins, CB Darius Hillary, S Kai Nacua
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Released: WR Brian Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB LaTroy Lewis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Ronald Martin
- Released: S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Raysean Pringle
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Akeem Hunt
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Joseph Jones, CB Craig Mager
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, CB Kevin Peterson
- Released: OL Michael Dunn, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Released: LB Trevor Bates, DT Darius Kilgo
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nordly Capi, WR Travis Rudolph
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Lawrence Thomas
- Released: DL Patrick Gamble
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Ben Boulware, RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Quincy Adeboyejo
- RB Alex Collins
- FB Ricky Ortiz
- OL Maurquice Shakir
- LB Boseko Lokombo
- TE Ryan Malleck
- DB Reggie Porter
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Brandon Bell
- K Jake Elliott
- OT Kent Perkins
- DT Josh Tupou
- WR Kermit Whitfield
- DT DeShawn Williams
- RB Jarveon Williams
- S Brandon Wilson
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed:
- WR Reggie Davis
- DB Michael Jordan
- DT T.Y. McGill
- WR Kasen Williams (story)
- QB Josh Woodrum
- Cut:
- WR Rashard Higgins
- DB Darius Hillary
- DL Tyrone Holmes
- DB Kai Nacua
- DB Marcus Burley
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE J.P. Holtz
- LB Deon King
- RB Terrence Magee
- DB Najee Murray
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Acquired:
- S J.J. Wilcox (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Justin Thomas
- C Kyle Friend
- TE Jake McGee
- RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
- WR Marcus Tucker
- LB Matt Galambos
- S Jacob Hagen
- DE Lavon Hooks
- LB Farrington Huguenin
- CB Dashaun Phillips
Browns Sign Corey Coleman, Other Draftees
No NFL team has more draftees to lock up than the Browns, who selected 14 players in this year’s draft, averaging two picks per round. The team has begun to put a dent into its rookie class, announcing today that six draft picks, including first-round wide receiver Corey Coleman, have officially signed contracts.
Here’s the full list of Cleveland draftees that have formally put pen to paper so far:
- 1-15: Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor)
- 5-154: Jordan Payton, WR (UCLA) (previously reported)
- 5-168: Spencer Drango, OL (Baylor)
- 5-172: Rashard Higgins, WR (Colorado State)
- 5-173: Trey Caldwell, CB (Louisiana-Monroe)
- 7-250: Scooby Wright, LB (Arizona) (previously reported)
In addition to securing their top pick, the Browns have now signed their last five selections as well, leaving eight unsigned players in between — that list includes second-round pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, along with three third-round picks and four fourth-rounders.
Coleman, who figures to be catching passes from either Robert Griffin III or Josh McCown in his rookie season, will get a four-year deal worth about $11.655MM, with a signing bonus of $6.676MM and a first-year cap hit of $2.119MM, according to Over the Cap’s data. Coleman’s contract will also feature a fifth-year option for 2020, allowing Cleveland to control him for an extra season.
The Browns’ selection of Coleman at No. 15 overall last month was the result of multiple trades down, first from No. 2, then from No. 8.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.