The Cleveland Browns have one big question mark on their roster heading into the season opener. The Browns have many options at the returner spots but no answers. The team could not find a reliable returner after cut-day. The Browns do not list a punt returner on their official depth chart. The organization believes Nyheim Hines will be the starting returner once he returns from injury.
The Browns have a handful of choices for punt returners on their practice squad. James Proche II was the Browns’ primary returner last year. He returned 22 punts for 197 yards. Jaelon Darden, another receiver on the practice squad, returned four punts for 39 yards last year for the Browns. Darden was the best returner in the preseason. He returned six kickoffs for 170 yards and four punts for 23 yards.
Darden is a serviceable returner, but not a long-term option. The Browns will likely elevate one of the receivers to the game-day roster until Hines returns.
The kick returners, Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., leave much to be desired in the return game. Strong was the primary kick returner last season. He returned eight kicks for 200 yards. Strong’s impressive mix of speed and strength could make him a threat with the league’s new “Dynamic” kick return.
The Browns will have to rely on a collective of return specialists at the start of the season. The Browns have a lot of faith that Hines will be the return specialist when he’s healthy. Hines tore his ACL in July of last year after a jet ski and their driver hit him. He is currently on the Non-Football Injury list and isn’t eligible to return until the season’s fifth game. The Browns must make do with the players in their organization until then.