Could this be the week Donovan Peoples-Jones makes his NFL debut? The sixth-round rookie is one of several options for Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer to replace injured return specialist JoJo Natson.
Natson was placed on I.R. this week after tearing an ACL in Sunday’s win over Washington.
Peoples-Jones, a wide receiver from Michigan with electrifying athleticism, was the first name mentioned by Priefer when listing his options for Week 4 during his press conference this week. It’s a lengthy list that includes a newcomer to the team’s practice squad, Ryan Switzer.
“We have worked guys,” Priefer said via Zoom. “We’ve worked Donovan Peoples-Jones and we have worked Dontrell (Hilliard – signed to the active roster from the practice squad this week) and D’Ernest (Johnson). Ryan (Switzer) will certainly be in play either this week or next week. It just depends on how quickly we get him ready if we need him.”
During training camp, Natson and Peoples-Jones were the primary return men competing for the gig. Hilliard and Johnson both gained some experience with the Browns in years past as returners, too. Switzer was the all-rookie return specialist in 2017 in Dallas and thrived again in Pittsburgh in 2018.
Priefer understands it’s a tough choice.
“We have some candidates,” Priefer continued. “They are all different type returners than JoJo so we have to adjust a little bit of what we do, but that is why we are paid as coaches and players, and we have to go out and do our job.”