Willie Harvey Jr.

Browns Trim Roster To 53

The Browns are one of the first teams to slash their roster from 80 to 53 players. Here is how Cleveland reached the NFL’s regular-season roster max:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

After seeing an NFL-NFLPA settlement increase his suspension to 11 games, Watson cannot return to game action until Dec. 4. He can return to the Browns’ facility in October and begin practicing in November.

With Jimmy Garoppolo recommitted to the 49ers, Jacoby Brissett is seemingly Cleveland’s locked-in QB1. While Brissett bombing in the role could prompt the Browns to pursue Garoppolo’s cheaper contract before the trade deadline, the veteran now has a no-trade clause again. The 49ers also may be interested in retaining the veteran arm in case of an injury to Trey Lance or if the much-hyped prospect struggles.

Receiving a fair amount of hype as a prospect three years before Lance, Rosen has not panned out. He signed with the Browns late in the offseason but, barring a practice squad stay, will be bounced from another team. The former Cardinals No. 10 overall pick has moved from Arizona to Miami to Tampa to San Francisco to Atlanta to Cleveland since 2019.

Hance started eight games for the Browns last season and has been with the team since 2020, arriving as a UDFA. Having been in Kevin Stefanski’s system for three years now, the 26-year-old blocker would make sense as a taxi squad stash — especially with starting center Nick Harris on IR.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/8/22

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/21

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Browns Sign Willie Harvey Jr.

The Browns have signed free agent linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Harvey, who spent time with the Browns a couple years back, could help fill in for Jacob Phillips following his biceps tear.

[RELATED: Browns’ Jacob Phillips Done For Year?]

Harvey had a standout career at Iowa State and was widely expected to be a Day 3 pick in 2019. Instead, he went undrafted and wound up signing with the Browns as a UDFA. The 230-pound defender had a solid preseason for the Browns, compiling 10 tackles and one pass defended. He didn’t make the final cut, but he did manage to earn a promotion from the taxi squad and see time in a couple of games that year.

Harvey hasn’t seen live action since ’19, but Phillips’ (likely) season-ending injury could open the door for him. Plus, with Sione Takitaki‘s hamstring trouble, he should be able to get some preseason snaps. The Browns will face the Giants on Sunday before wrapping their exhibition slate against the Falcons on Aug. 29.

Browns Get Down To 53

The Browns became the second team after the Panthers to officially announce their initial 53-man roster, waiving 24 players to get down. Here’s everybody they cut, with a recap on some notables at the bottom:

One of the biggest names on this list is Thomas, who the Browns drafted 67th overall in 2018. He barely played as a rookie, but he started eight games and had four sacks last year. The Browns are loaded along the defensive line, so it would’ve been tough for him to find snaps. He’s a definite practice squad candidate assuming he doesn’t get claimed.

Taylor flashed some potential with the Titans and had 466 yards with Tennessee in 2018, but failed to make a dent after getting traded to Cleveland last year. Ratley is another receiver who got cut, and he started three games each of the past two years. The 2018 sixth-rounder from Texas A&M had 200 yards and a touchdown last season.

Gilbert spent last season as Baker Mayfield‘s backup after he lit it up in the ill-fated AAF, but he was made expendable by the offseason addition of Case Keenum. He should get another shot elsewhere or on the practice squad.

Browns Promote LB Willie Harvey Jr.

Willie Harvey Jr. has been promoted to the NFL. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Browns have elevated the rookie linebacker from the practice squad.

The 23-year-old had a standout career at Iowa State, and some pundits projected the linebacker to be a late-round pick. However, Harvey Jr. ended up going undrafted in the 2019 draft, and he subsequently caught on with Cleveland.

The 230-pound defender had a solid preseason for the Browns, compiling 10 tackles and one pass defended, but he was waived by the team in late August. He quickly caught on with Cleveland’s practice squad.

Browns starting linebacker Christian Kirksey is seeking opinions on a torn bicep, and he’s already been ruled out for this weekend’s game against the Rams. While one of Malik Jefferson, Sione Takitaki, or Mack Wilson will likely get the first crack at the starting gig, Harvey Jr. could find himself making his NFL debut tomorrow night.

Browns Add Three UDFAs

The Browns signed 15 undrafted free agents earlier this week, but they still had an additional 34 rookies participate in their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Ultimately, Cleveland signed three of those 34 players to contracts (per Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com):

As Ulrich notes, Dean was a standout during the Browns’ rookie minicamp, as he had an interception and a pass defended during the first practice. Of course, the defensive back will still have an uphill battle to make the roster; the team used a pair of their draft picks on cornerbacks in Greedy Williams (second round) and Donnie Lewis Jr. (seventh round). The team also added undrafted free agent Jermaine Ponder (Saint Francis Pa.).

The same could be said for Harvey Jr., as the Browns selected a pair of linebackers during the draft in Sione Takitaki (third round) and Mack Wilson (fifth round). Cleveland also added an undrafted linebacker, Anthony Stubbs (Prairie View A&M).

With Gray and Dean under contract, the Browns now have eight former Miami Hurricanes on their roster. The six-foot-2, 235-pound Gray served mostly as a block running back during his collegiate career.