Juan Thornhill comes under fire after questionable effort vs. Saints

The veteran safety has some explaining to do.

The Cleveland Browns are experiencing an abysmal 2024 season after another loss to the New Orleans Saints, and it seems to have taken its toll on safety Juan Thornhill.

Thornhill, who signed as a free agent before the 2023 season, has spent most of his time with the team on Injured Reserve. And now, he has come under fire for giving questionable effort on a long catch-and-run that resulted in a Saints touchdown on Sunday. The Browns lost the game 35-14.

As Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught the football and worked upfield, Thornhill can be seen in backside pursuit. For a player who ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2019, it sure looks like Thornhill has the brakes on a bit.

This is largely symptomatic of the effort the Browns have seen from players with money on the line this season like Thornhill and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, who made a “business decision” not to play against the Baltimore Ravens that cost him his starting job.

Can we just simulate the rest of the season already?