Category: Latest Browns News

Browns release DT Devaroe Lawrence with Larry Ogunjobi back from suspension

Browns release DT Devaroe Lawrence to make room for Larry Ogunjobi’s return

The suspension-related roster churning continues for the Cleveland Browns. In order to make room on the roster for Larry Ogunjobi’s return from his 1-game suspension, the Browns released fellow DT Devaroe Lawrence.

It’s a bit of a surprising move considering Lawrence’s more established presence with the team than either Brandin Bryant or Porter Gustin, who were each promoted from the practice squad last week. Lawrence was averaging just under 20 snaps per game for the season and notched eight tackles, zero sacks, one INT and one fumble recovery.

Ogunjobi returns to the starting lineup to face the Steelers after being suspended one game for his role in the brawl at the end of the Week 11 meeting between the two teams in Cleveland.

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Browns’ unofficial depth chart for Week 13

Browns’ unofficial depth chart for Week 13 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Cleveland Browns released their unofficial depth chart for the Week 13 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This week’s edition features a couple of interesting wrinkles.

First, rookie offensive lineman Drew Forbes makes an appearance as the backup left guard behind starter Joel Bitonio. Forbes has still yet to play in a game for the Browns since being activated off injured reserve.

At tight end, rookie Stephen Carlson is listed ahead of Pharaoh Brown on the depth chart. That reflects the reality of late, but it’s still interesting to see the movement after Brown’s injury earlier this year. Carlson caught his first career pass–a touchdown reception–in the first meeting with the Steelers in Week 11.

Olivier Vernon remains listed with an injury designation at one of the starting DE spots. We’ll know more about his status for the Steelers game later this week.

Former Ohio State DE Noah Spence among Browns workouts

From the “what ever happened to that guy” files…

Monday was tryout day around the NFL, and the Cleveland Browns brought in several free agents. One of those names is a familiar one for college football fans around the midwest.

Former Ohio State pass rusher Noah Spence is the most prominent name among the tryouts. Spence was a second-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016 after transferring from Ohio State to Eastern Kentucky after a series of failed drug tests. His NFL career has not gone well since bagging 5.5 sacks as a rookie. He was dumped by Washington earlier this month and has just two sacks in 25 games since 2016.

Other Browns tryouts included former CFL standout Terence Fede and former Lions starting DT Caraun Reid.

Nick Chubb talks about Kareem Hunt and changes in practice habits

In an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio, Browns RB Nick Chubb talks about Kareem Hunt and changes in practice habits that led to winning

In an interview on Monday with Sirius XM NFL Radio, Browns running back Nick Chubb weighed in on a number of topics regarding the team and the recent upswing in success.

The normally reserved Chubb opened up a little on what changes the team made to kickstart the 3-game win streak.

“It’s just a mindset of everybody coming together and realizing that, if we want to make a run and get these wins, some things have to change,” Chubb told hosts Burce Murray and Brady Quinn. “We kind of looked at ourselves and we all just agreed upon that and started practicing different. Our whole demeanor just changed. We realized who we were and what we wanted to be.”

Chubb noted the team has not lost since Kareem Hunt joined the lineup. He welcomes the addition.

“I was excited to play with him. He’s an amazing person,” Chubb said of his backfield mate.

The second-year back appreciates getting a little more rest during games now that Hunt is playing, too.

“It is nice to have somebody go in behind me who is just as good – maybe even better depending on who you ask,” Chubb joked.

 

Browns sign WR J’Mon Moore to the practice squad

Moore was a 4th round pick by the Packers in 2018 out of Missouri

Welcome to Cleveland, J’Mon Moore! The second-year wide receiver is the newest member of the Cleveland Browns practice squad.

Cleveland signed Moore on Monday, a day after the team blistered the Miami Dolphins. Moore fills one of the vacant spots on the practice squad created when the Browns promoted Porter Gustin and Brandin Bryant to the active roster for the Dolphins game.

Moore played collegiately at Missouri. He was a fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2018 NFL Draft and played a little, but he failed to make the final roster in 2019. Moore is a bigger (listed 6-3/205) receiver who was a physical presence at Missouri, albeit one with inconsistent hands.

Chad Thomas was the Browns’ top-graded defender vs. the Dolphins

The Browns needed an EDGE to step up and Thomas delivered

Down Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon at defensive end, Chad Thomas needed to step up his game in their absence. And the second-year DE did just that against his hometown team, posting a great game for the Browns against the Miami Dolphins.

Thomas wound up scoring the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any Browns defensive player in the 41-24 home win. In fact, the only EDGE who socred higher in Sunday’s games in Week 12 was Khalil Mack, as in Chicago’s All-Pro Khalil Mack.

The initial grading from PFF credited Thomas with four QB pressures and three tackles. That’s a decent day. Where he thrived was in coverage. Thomas earned a grade over 90 for his effort against screens and the quick passing game.

Thomas’ overall season grade remains mired well below where would be hoped, but a solid game against Miami could be the catalyst he needed to bring more sweet music to the gridiron.

Browns playoff chances still very much alive

The Cleveland Browns playoff probability jumps to over 50 percent with a win over the Steelers in Week 13

At a record of 5-6, the playoffs might seem like a crazy goal for the Cleveland Browns. But three straight wins, a favorable upcoming schedule to finish out the season and a lack of good teams in the AFC all make the postseason a more realistic outcome than you might think.

The current AFC Wild Card picture is very crowded after the Week 12 Sunday outcomes. Right now the Browns sit at the No. 10 seed, looking up at four teams with 6-5 records. One of those is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who Cleveland faces in Week 13.

Pittsburgh currently holds the No. 6 seed, the final playoff spot. They win tiebreakers over the Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders and Indianapolis Colts based on conference record. If the Browns win in Pittsburgh on Sunday, they’ll own the tiebreaker with Pittsburgh based on sweeping the Steelers.

Alas, the picture is more complicated than that. Head-to-head only matters when there are just two teams involved. But the Browns are looking very good in any multi-team tie, too. Like Pittsburgh, the Browns are currently 5-3 against AFC opponents. A win over the Steelers seizes that tiebreaker for Cleveland.

There are still loads of outcomes that will weigh into the race over the next five weeks. The Titans and Colts play in Week 13, and then Tennessee visits Oakland the following Sunday. The Jaguars, Chargers and Jets are all 4-7 and still alive, too.

Football Outsiders calculates the current Browns playoff odds at 26.4 percent. At FiveThirtyEight, the current odds are 30 percent. Their interactive tool allows some ability to project forward, so I ran a scenario of outcomes for Week 13.

The Browns percentage jumps to 54 percent with the following hypothetical results from this coming week:

Cleveland beats Pittsburgh

Tennessee beats Indianapolis

Kansas City beats Oakland

It goes up to 57 percent probability if the Cowboys knock off the 8-3 Buffalo Bills, the current Wild Card leaders.

Sheldon Richardson really hopes Mason Rudolph starts for the Steelers in Week 13

The look on Richardson’s face when he’s asked why he wants Rudolph to play is one of the most honest–and hilarious–expressions you’ll ever see from an NFL player.

Count Browns defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson among those who really want to see Mason Rudolph back at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers when the two teams meet in Week 13. Richardson gave a classic answer when asked about it after the Browns’ win over the Miami Dolphins.

While Cleveland was pounding Miami, Rudolph got benched after his poor play led to the Steelers trailing the winless Cincinnati Bengals. He was replaced by Devlin Hodges, who quickly rallied Pittsburgh to a win. That was a hot topic among the Cleveland media in the locker room and a question posed to Richardson.

After initially dismissing the question, the big defensive lineman returns to it quickly.

“I hope he plays, I hope he plays,” he says.

He’s asked the natural follow-up question — why?

“Did you see him play last game?”, Richardson deadpans incredulously.

The look on Richardson’s face when he’s asked why he wants Rudolph to play is one of the most honest–and hilarious–expressions you’ll ever see from an NFL player.

Thanks to 92.3 The Fan for the video on the quip!

Joe Schobert playing like he deserves a big new contract

Joe Schobert is the Browns most valuable pending free agent and GM John Dorsey is only seeing the price tag rise with Schobert’s great play

Joe Schobert is the Browns’ most prominent pending free agent. Based on how he’s played the last two weeks, the price tag is only rising for Cleveland’s top linebacker.

Schobert picked off two passes against the Miami Dolphins in the Browns’ 41-24 romp. It was the second game in a row where No. 53 secured two INTs, both convincing victories.

Schobert was the best player on the field against Pittsburgh in Week 11. Not only that, he was the best defensive player on any field in the NFL that week, according to Pro Football Focus grading. He followed that up with another impressive outing against the Dolphins, with five tackles and the two INTs among his four total passes defended.

His impact in the passing game from the linebacker position is exceedingly rare. How rare, you ask?

 

He did it against Miami with the line in front of him decimated, missing three starters due to a combination of injury and suspension. For most of the Dolphins game, he played with multiple rookies around him.

The Browns recently paid center JC Tretter with a nice contract extension. Tretter was deserving and happy to remain in Cleveland. Now it’s time for GM John Dorsey to do the same with Schobert while the price tag is still affordable. If he keeps playing the way he has the past few weeks, other teams will be chomping at the bit to give Schobert whatever he wants.

Highlight: Kareem Hunt scores his 1st TD for the Browns

Highlight: Kareem Hunt scores his 1st TD for the Browns to put Cleveland up 28-0

Kareem Hunt has scored his first touchdown as a member of the Cleveland Browns. The hometown running back raced in around right end from the Miami 6-yard line to push the Browns up over the Dolphins, 28-0 after the conversion.

Hunt scored on his fifth carry of the game. It’s his third game with the Browns since he returned from his 8-game suspension, and all of the games have been at home.

The Browns blocked this one well, but Hunt’s acceleration after opting to bounce the run outside is what leads to the touchdown.