Tag: Chris Odom

61 days until Browns season opener: 5 players to wear 61 in Cleveland

Just 61 days remain

The countdown clock to the 2023 Cleveland Browns season has hit 61 as camp is about to begin. 61 is an interesting number for the franchise as only 12 previous players have worn it for the Browns. It was first worn by Dale Memmelaar during the 1964 season.

Last season the number was worn by defensive end Chris Odom who was the first player since 2016 to wear it during a regular season game for Cleveland. Currently, even with the expanded rosters for training camp, no one will wear the number 61 unless it’s someone currently not on the team or someone changes theirs.

Let’s take a look at five players that have worn the number 61 for Cleveland.

10 Browns free agents remain unsigned heading into OTAs

10 members of the 2022 Browns have yet to find a new home in free agency.

The Cleveland Browns dramatically overhauled their defense this offseason. From the hiring of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to the signing of defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson to the trade for Za’Darius Smith, the Browns addressed a bleeding issue from a year ago. This means, however, that means players from the 2022 roster have parted ways as well, including the likes of running back Jadeveon Clowney and running back Kareem Hunt.

With OTAs underway as well, both Hunt and Clowney have yet to find a new home in free agency. They are not the only two, however, as there are a total of 10 players from Cleveland’s 2022 roster that remain unsigned as the offseason progresses.

 

Browns injury updates: 1 significant injury, 4 encouraging reports Sunday

The day after the Bears game came five injury updates, thankfully four were positive:

The Cleveland Browns lost their last two preseason games by two points combined. As has always been noted, staying healthy in the games are always the highest priority.

Against the Chicago Bears, safety Grant Delpit and guard Wyatt Teller went down with injuries among the team’s starters. DE Chris Odom, fighting for a roster spot, also left the game due to injury.

Cleveland also had a few players that have sat out games due to injury concerns throughout preseason including CB A.J. Green and S Ronnie Harrison who didn’t play during the game against the Bears.

With Week 1 now two weeks away, the Browns have to cut their roster down to the initial 53-man and get as healthy as possible. Sunday, HC Kevin Stefanski provided some injury updates:

Browns must reduce roster by 5 players by Tuesday

The NFL is back to slowly reducing rosters to the initial 53-man with the first five going off rosters by Tuesday:

Some of the different regulations that were put in place around the COVID-19 pandemic were not just related to masks and testing. Some were pretty significant changes to how the football business was done in the NFL.

A few changes might linger but, like most if not all of the health and safety protocols, most have been eliminated going into the 2022 NFL season.

One of the biggest was the all-at-once cutting down of rosters from the 90-man to the 53-man at the end of the preseason. The chaotic nature, for both fans and the front offices around the league, was both fun and overwhelming.

Starting Tuesday of this week, that changes as we return to the slow steady reduction process. We have already seen teams over the weekend begin reducing their rosters from 90 to 85. Instead of risking injury to players they may cut in a couple of days, teams are getting ahead of things.

The Cleveland Browns have not made moves yet with this in mind. One of those moves could be placing OL Nick Harris on season-ending injured reserve. The same would be true if QB Deshaun Watson is suspended for the entire season.

It will be interesting if players like LB Jordan Kunaszyk and DE Chris Odom, both signed in the last two weeks, would be among the first set of cuts.

We will keep you up to date right here with all roster moves as the team starts the slow process of getting down to their initial 53-man roster.

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Browns make another flurry of moves Saturday

Three receivers return to practice, one receiver down for “awhile”, one defensive end to IR, another officially signed and a few other moves confirmed in a busy Saturday for the Browns:

The Cleveland Browns head into the week ramping up to their first preseason game with a few question marks. Outside of QB Deshaun Watson’s discipline process, the Browns injury concerns seem to be piling up, especially at the wide receiver position.

Thankfully, they also seem to be getting a few players healthy as well.

Injuries are a part of a game that is full contact and, often, a full collision sport. While focusing on one team often leads fans to think their team is more injury prone than the next, they often even out during training camp.

It is the injuries that cost key players their whole season or that hit during important stretches that really cause problems.

Saturday, Cleveland made another flurry of moves to update their roster:

Browns signing USFL’s Defensive Player of the Year DE Chris Odom

Cleveland will be bringing in the USFL DPOY and son of the Browns 3rd round draft pick in 1980:

The Cleveland Browns are staying active in looking for ways to upgrade the team. While the final outcome of QB Deshaun Watson’s discipline will play the biggest role in the team’s season, depth is vital for the 17-game haul and, hopefully, playoff games.

GM Andrew Berry is constantly bringing in players for workouts and juggling the bottom of the roster to get the most impact for the team as possible.

While it is rare that any of these lesser moves make a huge impact on the boxscore, the possibility of quality depth makes the moves worth it.

The latest for the Browns is the addition of USFL’s Defensive Player of the Year defensive end Chris Odom. Odom announced the signing on his Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg5TJ6GuYtf/

The team has not made the signing official yet but that is likely to come Saturday.

Odom was a high school teammate with Cleveland DE Myles Garrett. Odom was undrafted out of Arkansas State. He made his NFL debut in 2017 playing in seven games with the Green Bay Packers. He returned to regular season action in 2019 with four games in Washington that included two sacks, two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss.

Last year in the USFL, Odom was the only defender to reach double-digit sacks, 12.5 in 10 games, earning his Defensive Player of the Year honors. The 6’4″, 260-pound edge rusher was a terror for the Houston Gamblers.

In an interesting twist, Odom’s father, Cliff Odom, was drafted in the third round by the Browns in the 1980 NFL draft. The elder Odom played just one year in Cleveland but had a 13-year career in the NFL.

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Houston Gamblers DE Chris Odom among Texans’ 4 workouts

The Houston Texans worked out Houston Gamblers DE Chris Odom as part of their four-player workout on Day 1 of training camp.

The Houston Texans worked out four defenders on Friday during the first day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center, according to a league source.

The Texans brought in former Pittsburgh Steelers sixth-round pick Antoine Brooks. The former Maryland product played four games with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020, and then eight games with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 after being let go in Pittsburgh.

The other defensive back the Texans worked out was former Kentucky Wesleyan product Kishawn Walker, who actually went to rookie minicamp with the Texans this offseason.

Houston worked out defensive end Chris Odom, a former 2017 undrafted free agent from Arkansas State via Arlington Martin High School. The 6-4, 256-pound edge defender has spent time with three NFL teams, but most recently was in the USFL playing for the Houston Gamblers, where he racked up 12.5 sacks.

The Texans also worked out defensive tackle Lorenzo Neal, an undrafted free agent from Purdue and Houston’s St. Thomas High School. Neal went to camp with the Denver Broncos last offseason, but was waived after the preseason.

Chiefs to host USFL Defensive Player of the Year Chris Odom for tryout

The #Chiefs are bringing in DE Chris Odom, the USFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, for a tryout.

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing in a USFL standout for a tryout at training camp.

On Wednesday, the Chiefs are scheduled to host former Houston Gamblers DE Chris Odom for a tryout, a source confirmed to Chiefs Wire. Odom (6-4, 260 pounds) was named USFL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles over 10 games this spring. He was the only player in the USFL to record a double-digit sack total during its inaugural season.

The 27-year-old journeyman has played in the AAF, CFL and NFL as well. The Chiefs actually showed interest in Odom back in 2019 after his stint with the Salt Lake Stallions. His experience in the NFL is a bit of a mixed bag, spending time with the Falcons, Packers, Dolphins and Commanders. In total, he has appeared in 11 NFL games, 7 with Green Bay and 4 with Washington. During that span, he recorded 16 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Odom played at Arkansas State in college, where he posted 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks as a senior in 2016. He also played with Browns EDGE Myles Garrett at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.

Kansas City has a clear need at the edge rusher position, even after the reported signing of former Cowboys DE Azur Kamara. Bringing in a player like Odom shows that they’re doing their homework in order to create the most competitive roster possible.

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Former Eagles RB Jordan Howard among latest Saints free agent tryouts

Former Eagles RB Jordan Howard, USFL Defensive Player of the Year Chris Odom among latest Saints free agent tryouts:

The start of New Orleans Saints training camp is here, so it makes sense for the team to fly in a handful of free agents for tryouts now that they’re getting a better grasp on their roster. Putting players through their paces in practice each day and checking in on various injury situations helps inform the Saints on where they still need help, and that’s reflected in their latest tryouts.

We know running back is a priority for them, so it’s good to see WWLTV’s Brooke Kirchhofer report that former Philadelphia Eagles backup Jordan Howard will be trying out soon. New Orleans could use an upgrade in the backfield behind Alvin Kamara regardless of his status, and Howard brings some value as a runner who has averaged 50-plus rushing yards per game in three of the last four seasons. He’ll be a good comparison for the Saints to work out alongside Darius Victor, the USFL’s Offensive Player of the Year who will be trying out soon.

Additionally, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that the Saints will work out defensive end Chris Odom — a playmaking pass rusher who just won recognition as USFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Houston Gamblers. Odom bagged 12.5 sacks (leading the spring league), 8 tackles for loss, and 6 forced fumbles while blocking 4 kicks. The Saints run deep at defensive end but it’s still worth giving him a look, especially with Marcus Davenport starting camp on the PUP list. You can never have enough pass rushers.

It’s likely that the Saints are hosting other free agents, too, but we won’t know for sure until it’s reported or declared by the team to the NFL daily transactions wire. We’ll be keeping an eye out to see if any of this activity results in a contract or two.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Former Packers OLB Chris Odom wins USFL Defensive Player of the Year

Former Packers OLB Chris Odom was named the new USFL’s first Defensive Player of the year.

Former Green Bay Packers edge rusher Chris Odom was named the USFL’s Inaugural Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022 season.

Odom spent a year with the Packers spanning the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He appeared in seven regular-season games for Mike Pettine’s defense during the 2017 season, playing 59 total snaps on defense and 13 more on special teams while producing six tackles.

The Packers waived Odom after training camp and before the 2018 regular season. He spent time with two other NFL teams and teams in the CFL before breaking out in a big way in the USFL this season.

The Houston Gamblers picked Odom with the fourth pick of the second round in the USFL draft. He led the USFL in sacks (12.5) and forced fumbles (6) over 10 games during the 2022 season. He was the only player with double-digit sacks, and he also added 8.0 tackles for losses.

Here’s a highlight package from Odom’s season:

Here’s Odom’s reaction to winning the award:

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