Tag: Cleveland Browns

NFL makes ‘Monday Night Football’ flex decision for Week 13

The NFL has opted to keep the Broncos-Browns game as the ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup in Week 13. No flex.

The NFL has made a decision on the Monday Night Football matchup for Week 13.

The Denver Broncos (6-5) hosting the Cleveland Browns (2-8) will remain the MNF game after the league opted not to flex it out of the prime-time window. Denver will host Cleveland on Monday, Dec. 2.

The game will be nationally televised on ESPN beginning at 6:15 p.m. MT and available to stream on fuboTV (try it free). Unfortunately, there’s no ManningCast scheduled for the Broncos-Browns game.

First things first, Denver will go on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) in a Sunday afternoon game on Nov. 24. After that, the Broncos will play on MNF before a bye in Week 14.

If Denver is going to make the NFL playoffs this season, beating the next two winnable games on the schedule will be key. The Broncos will have four games remaining after the bye, including a big road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) in Week 17. If both teams are still in the playoff hunt, the Broncos-Bengals game will be a candidate to get flexed into a nationally-televised window.

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Steelers CB Donte Jackson takes playful jab at Panthers

The Panthers just caught a stray from their former CB Donte Jackson.

The trapper has become the trapped.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, spoke with reporters this afternoon—just a few days ahead of his team’s Week 12 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Jackson was asked if his 8-2, AFC North-leading squad could be facing a trap game against their struggling 2-8 division rivals.

But Jackson, likely jokingly, didn’t understand what the term “trap game” meant . . .

Carolina selected Jackson in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. And the Panthers, in his six seasons there, went a combined 31-68 with a grand total of zero playoff appearances.

Jackson, of course, was traded to the Steelers this past March. The then-28-year-old defender headed off to Pittsburgh in a deal involving former Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson and 2024 pick swap.

Johnson has since been traded by the Panthers while Jackson continues to start on one of the best defenses in football.

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Former Browns GM gets a second chance in the Big Apple

Phil Savage has been named the interim GM of the Jets

Former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage is getting a second chance with the New York Jets.

Waves made their way through the Jets facility on Tuesday morning when the team announced the firing of general manager Joe Douglas. In his place, they would name former Browns scout turned general manager Phil Savage in his place as the interim position.

This marks the second major move made by the Jets this season after firing head coach Robert Saleh earlier in the season.

Phil Savage will have a short period to audition for the full-time role and he’s more than likely serving as a placeholder, team Chairman Woody announced that the search for a new general manager will begin immediately.

Phil Savage has made his way around the football world in his career, acting as Browns’ general manager between 2005 and 2008, working in the front offices of the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, running the short-lived Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football league, color commentating for the Alabama Crimson Tide, working as an insider for ESPN, and directing the Senior Bowl for seven years in Mobile, Alabama, where he grew up.

Most recently, Savage made his way back into the NFL joining the New York Jets as a Senior Advisor in 2019 as a part of Joe Douglas’ new front office. Now with Douglas gone, he’ll be tasked with finding a replacement for the man who hired him.

WATCH: First look at HBO’s Hard Knocks In-Season with the AFC North

HBO released the initial trailer for Hard Knocks In-Season with the AFC North featuring the Ravens, Bengals, Browns and Steelers

The AFC North is the most challenging division in the NFL. The season started with four potential 2024 playoff teams and tons of storylines. As HBO’s Hard Knocks takes an inside, in-season look at this historical division, fans will now have an up-close look.

For the first time since its debut, the award-winning docuseries goes behind the scenes of an entire NFL division for the first time. Warner Brothers Discovery made the announcement back in June.

HARD KNOCKS: IN SEASON WITH THE AFC NORTH will document the battle for the AFC North crown during the final six weeks of the NFL season, as well as a playoff run for the division-winner and any AFC North Wild Card teams. The 18-time Emmy®-winning series will deliver its signature all-access coverage as it follows the Mike Tomlin-coached Pittsburgh Steelers, who have never been featured on “Hard Knocks” in the history of the series, as well as coach John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens, coach Zac Taylor’s Cincinnati Bengals, and coach Kevin Stefanski’s Cleveland Browns. Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields will share the “Hard Knocks” spotlight with Derrick Henry, Ja’Marr Chase, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, and an array of other AFC North star players.

It will debut Tuesday, December 3, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and stream on Max. Subsequent Tuesdays will air through the end of the NFL regular season and continue into the NFL playoffs in January 2025. HBO released the first trailer on Tuesday, and it looks as intense as the action presents.

Baltimore was the first team featured on the original “Hard Knocks” training camp series 2001. Since then, the Bengals have appeared twice, in 2009 and 2013, and the Browns in 2018, while the Pittsburgh Steelers will be making their debut appearance. Storylines to watch will include Patrick Queen’s arrival in Pittsburgh and the renewed Steelers-Ravens rivalry.

Contract disputes in Cleveland, Deshaun Watson’s return and subsequent injury, Russell Wilson’s debut, Justin Field’s arrival, and Joe Burrow’s return are just the tip of the iceberg of storylines and interesting subplots.

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Browns poach offensive lineman off Rams’ practice squad

The Rams just lost OL Geron Christian to the Browns as Cleveland has signed him off LA’s practice squad

The Los Angeles Rams now have one fewer offensive lineman in their building. On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns announced they have signed veteran Geron Christian off the Rams’ practice squad, adding him to their 53-man roster.

The Rams originally signed Christian as a free agent in September before releasing him and signing him to the practice squad just days later. He didn’t play any offensive snaps with the Rams but he was on the field for two special teams plays in Week 2 against the Cardinals.

The Rams also promoted him from the practice squad as recently as Sunday against New England, though he didn’t see the field.

This will be Christian’s second stint with the Browns. He spent part of the 2023 season in Cleveland, starting out on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster a week later.

Browns optimistic about getting one OL back vs. Steelers

Jedrick Wills is expected to return to practice on Tuesday

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. will attempt to practice on Tuesday with the Pittsburgh Steelers up next on a short week.

This is a good sign for the former Browns’ starting tackle who has had a difficult season. He is now back in a starting role after the season-ending injury to Dawand Jones, it’s just a matter of getting back to full health. Wills currently has 245 total snaps played so far in 2024 with a 52.9 overall PFF grade to show for it.

The starting left tackle spot has been a revolving door for Cleveland. Throughout injuries, adjustments to the game plan, and more, the Browns are now back where they started at the position. Wills is a future unrestricted free agent in this upcoming offseason and has a lot to prove before his time comes to negotiate a new contract.

It’ll be worth nothing how much Wills can do at practice today and if he can play on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Browns land Best Player Available with pick No. 3 in new mock draft

The Browns land the lethal Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham in a new mock draft

The Cleveland Browns would love a quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft, but a new mock draft has them selecting Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham instead.

Why is that? Because Colorado’s duo of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and playmaker Travis Hunter are already off of the board. Instead of reaching for another quarterback like Miami’s Cam Ward, they opt for the BPA (best player available) approach.

And that road leads to the ultra-physical and explosive Graham who has been a havoc wreaker from the very first time he stepped on the field for the Wolverines. A new mock draft by Daft on Draft has the Browns taking him at pick No. 3.

He is currently second in all of college football in pressures with 32, sitting with a career-high five sacks as well.

While the Browns just selected Mike Hall Jr. in the second round last year, the rest of the defensive tackles on the roster are 30 or older or on expiring contracts. That room needs an infusion of young explosiveness, and Graham gives them that as one of the best players in the entire 2025 NFL draft.

Browns wait until second round to land new QB in new mock draft

The Browns landed Alabama QB Jalen Milroe with pick No. 35 in a new mock draft.

It is no secret that the Cleveland Browns need a new quarterback, and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe lands in Northeast Ohio in a new mock draft after rising back up the boards.

But not where you would think.

Daft on Draft did a new mock draft, this time a two-round version, and Milroe was their selection with their second round pick. Similar to the Philadelphia Eagles with Jalen Hurts, this could be a situation where he is allowed to sit, and bridge again (perhaps with Jameis Winston again), while building up safeguards to get the dynamic playmaker on the field.

Without exaggerating, Milroe runs a 4.3 40-yard dash, which allows for creativity to spark in and of itself. He has taken a massive stride as a passer this season as well, showing the eyes and patience to hang in the pocket to work through concepts and deliver footballs to open receivers.

He has a chance to sneak back into the SEC Championship game and will get at least one matchup in the College Football Playoffs as well to prove he can become a trustworthy thrower under the bright lights.

If he does? Pick No. 35 where the Browns land him here might be too late.

Browns re-sign familiar face to help with OL injury woes

The Browns have re-signed OT Geron Christian

The Cleveland Browns have re-signed offensive tackle Geron Christian after losing starting left tackle Dawand Jones for the season.

During their Week 11 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Jones was carted off the field. He has since been diagnosed with a fractured fibula. Former first round pick Jedrick Wills also missed the game with a flare-up in his knee, and he did not return to practice to start this short week before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.

With James Hudson III still on Injured Reserve, the Browns are slated to start veteran Germain Ifedi at left tackle opposite Jack Conklin.

Christian took over as the starting left tackle a year ago after Wills suffered a season-ending injury against the Arizona Cardinals. He remained the Browns’ starting left tackle for the rest of the season. He better get ready fast because the Browns might need to throw him right back into the starting lineup if anything happens to Ifedi this week.

Steelers vs Browns injury update: Cleveland offensive line banged up this week

The Browns could be minus both of their starting OTs vs the Steelers.

When you play on a short week, injuries are always magnified because teams simply don’t have enough time to properly evaluate when players are hurt and how ready they are to play when the game comes three days early.

This week the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns draw the short straw with Thursday Night Football and for the Browns this could have significant implications on the outcome.

Last week against the New Orleans Saints, starting offensive tackles Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones were both out. This week the Browns have to square up against T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, so not having their starting offensive tackles gives Pittsburgh a huge advantage.

The Browns are also minus their top tackler. Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah went on IR with a neck injury.

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