Tony Fields II

Browns Place S Juan Thornhill, DT Maurice Hurst II, Others On IR

An ugly Week 1 Browns loss has obviously brought more scrutiny on the team’s Deshaun Watson contract, but the former Pro Bowler did not have some key offensive pieces due to 2023 injuries. The Browns received some bad news regarding some other contributors since their loss to the Cowboys as well.

The team placed four players on IR on Wednesday. Safety Juan Thornhill, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, linebacker Tony Fields and linebacker Mohamoud Diabate are all out for at least four games. Calf and ankle injuries will respectively sideline Thornhill and Hurst.

Thornhill resides as the biggest name here; the ex-Chiefs starter operates as a Browns first-stringer, having signed a three-year, $21MM contract that came with $14MM fully guaranteed. Thornhill has started all 12 games he has played with Cleveland, but injury issues have intervened during the former second-round pick’s career. He missed six games last season, though no IR stint took place, and sustained an ACL tear late in his 2019 rookie campaign. One of last season’s absences also occurred due to the Browns resting starters in Week 18.

This IR placement comes after both Thornhill and fellow starter Grant Delpit played 95% of the Browns’ defensive snaps in Week 1. Bad news emerged in the wake of Cleveland’s loss, and Jim Schwartz‘s high-end defense will need some help. The team is rather well equipped to handle this issue, having re-signed ex-Schwartz Eagles charge Rodney McLeod this offseason.

McLeod, who suffered a season-ending biceps injury last year, re-signed with the Browns this offseason. The 34-year-old safety plans to retire after the season, but the Browns appear to need extensive contributions from the 13th-year vet before that happens. Brought in as a mentor-type who would work as a third safety presence under the ex-Eagles DC, McLeod did start five games last season. He now qualifies as important depth for a team battling recent defensive injuries while trying to withstand offensive absences stemming from long-term rehab timetables.

Hurst is on IR for a third straight season. A biceps tear cost the second-generation NFLer all of the 2022 season, but the Browns signed the defensive tackle last year. The Michigan product played in 13 Browns games as a reserve in 2023, helping the team lead the NFL in pass defense. The seventh-year DT, however, will join Thornhill, Fields and Diabate in missing at least four games.

With the Browns already using two of their injury activations — due to using the allotted two August injury-return slots on O-lineman Michael Dunn and running back Nyheim Hines — the team will probably not be able activate all four players from today’s IR transactions. They are down to six injury activations. While Thornhill profiles as a clear candidate to return, the others might not factor into Cleveland’s 2024 season much.

Signing linebacker Khaleke Hudson off the Saints’ practice squad and signing defensive end Sam Kamara on Tuesday, the Browns have since filled the remaining three roster spots by signing wide receiver David Bell and cornerback Mike Ford from their practice squad. The Browns had waived Bell late last week but circled back to the former third-round pick via a P-squad slot.

Browns Place RB Kareem Hunt, Seven Others On Reserve/COVID-19 List

The Browns have placed more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including running back Kareem Hunt. The team announced that the following players have landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list:

In his third season with the Browns, Hunt has totalled 386 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with an additional 174 yards on 22 catches in eight games. The 26-year-old has been a key member of the Browns’ backfield alongside Nick Chubb, helping the team average 143.5 rushing yards per game, ranking fourth in the NFL.

The team also announced that offensive assistant coach T.C. McCartney has tested positive for COVID-19. We learned earlier today that the NFL was pushing Saturday’s game between the Browns and Raiders to Monday.

Meanwhile, Cleveland activated linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and they’ve signed quarterback Kyle Lauletta to the active roster off the Jaguars practice squad. Lauletta, 26, has appeared in just two NFL games. Both were with the Giants in 2018, where he went 0-for-five with one interception. He has since spent time on the Eagles’, Falcons’ and Browns’ practice squads, only going to Jacksonville’s after being waived at the end of August.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/21

Today’s late round signings:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • DT Alim McNeill (third round; North Carolina State)

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team