Tag: Jakeem Grant

Priefer names Felton, Peoples-Jones as primary returners

The slight mystery of who is going to return kicks for the Browns is finally (hyperbole!) over:

The Cleveland Browns had hoped they had solved their returner woes this offseason with the signing of WR Jakeem Grant. Grant’s ability in the return game made him very valuable to the team while also having a chance to be a part of the offense as a slot receiver in creative ways. Grant’s Achilles injury took him out for the season and left return duties up in the air.

Earlier this week, HC Kevin Stefanski was mum on who would return punts and kicks. While there didn’t seem to be a lot of benefit to hiding that information, some wondered if there would be a surprise candidate.

Thursday afternoon, special teams coach Mike Priefer ended that mystery by saying that RB turned WR Demetric Felton would be the returner and WR Donovan Peoples-Jones would back him up:

Felton’s elusive running style fits well in the return game but vision and feel for blocks are something that can’t be measured. Priefer feels comfortable that the second-year pro has learned a lot from last season and is ready to go.

Peoples-Jones has a different style of running. An upright, straight-line receiver, the former Michigan star will be more of a one-cut-and-go type of returner compared to the shifty Felton.

Despite the loss of Grant, Cleveland still needs some production on special teams to help keep the battle of field position on their side.

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Achilles tear likely for Browns Jakeem Grant

The worst is all but confirmed for the Grant and the Browns are left looking for answers in their return game:

The Cleveland Browns are expecting the worst when it comes to their free agent wide receiver and returner Jakeem Grant. Grant went down with an injury during practice on Tuesday and struggled to get onto the cart to get off the field.

Grant was added as a free agent from the Chicago Bears. Grant started his career with over five years with the Miami Dolphins. In both locations, he was primarily used as a returner with six career touchdowns on special teams.

As a receiver, Grant has caught 100 passes for 1,140 yards.

Cleveland brought him in on a three-year, $10 million deal to help revitalize their special teams with the potential to be a threat out of the slot as well. As expected when he went down, the Browns believe the injury is serious:

Generally, on-field testing for an Achilles injury is generally reliable with further imaging confirming the tear.

While Cam Akers returned for the Los Angeles Rams after tearing his Achilles in late July, his return came near the end of December. It is possible that Cleveland could hope for the same for Grant but that would require them to keep him on the initial 53-man roster before placing him on injured reserve as they did LB Jacob Phillips last year.

The Browns will now look elsewhere to solve the return issues they had hoped Grant would take care of.

WR/KR Jakeem Grant carted off the field with potentially serious injury

Grant’s injury seems to be serious. Included video shows his struggle to get up and to the injury cart:

The hits keep coming for the Cleveland Browns. After concerns at the wide receiver position coming into training camp, David Bell and Anthony Schwartz missed some time due to injuries before recently returning. Undrafted WR Isaiah Weston was lost for the year.

Even veteran WR Amari Cooper went down with a minor ankle issue during a practice.

Tuesday may have come with the worst injury news at the position as well as one impacting special teams. WR/KR/PR Jakeem Grant has been a very good return player for years in the NFL. Signed this offseason, Grant was also expected to be a part of the team’s revamped receiver group.

In practice, Grant went down with what is said to be a major injury. Here we see him attempt to get to the cart and struggle to do so even with help:

While we await news of the extent of Grant’s injury, it is clear that losing him for an extended amount of time would be a huge blow. While his role on offense may be replaceable, the Browns have struggled to find a quality returner for years.

We will keep you updated on Grant’s status.

Browns minicamp opens: 3 injuries of note

Everyone but Mayfield (excused) was in attendance for the mandatory minicamp but three sat out due to injuries:

The Cleveland Browns opened their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday as parts of the state of Ohio deal with the aftermath of thunderstorms and significant heat.

The two biggest stories remain at quarterback with Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield. Tuesday alone, we covered a report that two more lawsuits would be filed and then Watson talked for the first time since his initial press conference.

Mayfield and the team agreed that he would be excused from the mandatory minicamp while news broke that the Carolina Panthers had a sense of urgency in wanting to acquire the former Heisman Trophy winner.

That is a lot for day one of the minicamp.

Amari Cooper also spoke about his role as a leader for the team despite just joining.

Outside of Mayfield, everyone else was in attendance for Cleveland including Joel Bitonio who has skipped OTAs this offseason.

There are three injuries of note among players expected to contribute. None were injured at minicamp today but all three did not participate:

2022 NFL draft: Every player taken with 186th overall pick in the last 10 years

The Bears own the 186th overall pick. Here’s a quick look back at every player selected at pick No. 186 dating back to 2012.

The Chicago Bears don’t have any first-round picks heading into the 2022 NFL draft. They do have three selections in the top 71, where general manager Ryan Poles has a chance to find an impact player.

But there are also some opportunities for Poles to find some late-round gems, including in the sixth round, where running back Khalil Herbert was selected last year.

When looking at the history of players taken with pick No. 186, there are plenty of uninspiring names. But former Bears return specialist Jakeem Grant was a notable name.

Here’s a quick look back at every player selected at No. 186 overall dating back to the 2012 NFL draft:

Browns and returner/receiver Jakeem Grant agree to deal

Browns have their full-time kick returner, who can also play a little receiver, with the addition of Grant:

The Cleveland Browns haven’t stopped despite the ongoing drama surrounding the most important position in football. So far this offseason, the Browns have:

While the team’s pursuit of Deshaun Watson picked up yesterday with them flying down to talk to him, the drama around Baker Mayfield increased with his, seeming, goodbye letter to the city of Cleveland.

That hasn’t stopped the moves as a little after midnight Wednesday morning, news broke that the team has added a new return man and receiver:

As noted, Grant is primarily a return man that plays some wide receiver.

Grant has played six seasons in the NFL primarily with the Miami Dolphins but finished last season with the Chicago Bears. He has four punt return touchdowns in his career and two kick-off return scores.

The diminutive (5’7″) Grant was a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He has 100 receptions to his credit for just over 1,100 yards despite only being targeted a total of 161 times in his six seasons. He’s also run the ball 17 times for 76 yards and a score.

While Demetric Felton, Anthony Schwartz and D’Ernest Johnson took turns, along with others, returning kicks last year, none were overly successful. Grant will step into that role immediately while also adding some explosive ability from the slot.

Browns to sign former Bears WR Jakeem Grant

Jakeem Grant won’t be back with the Bears in 2022. Grant is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Browns.

The Cleveland Browns are expected to sign former Chicago Bears wide receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It’s a three year deal for Grant worth up to $13.8 million.

The move comes as a bit of a shock considering Grant is coming off an impressive year for the Bears in a key special teams role and depth as receiver. Chicago traded for Grant in October, where he immediately stepped in as a return specialist. He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in the process.

In 11 games with the Bears last season, Grant averaged 11.9 yards per return, third in the NFL, with one touchdown on 26 returns. He also averaged 23.4 yards per kickoff return on 23 returns, which ranked 11th.

Grant also showed he could be a reliable depth option at wide receiver during limited opportunities last season. He had 11 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide receiver remains a top need for the Bears this offseason as Darnell Mooney is the only dependable wideout on the roster. Grant would’ve been a solid depth option, but he ultimately cashed in following a Pro Bowl and All-Pro year.

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Bears’ Jakeem Grant could get paid more than you think in free agency

Tom Pelissero believes Bears return specialist Jakeem Grant could net as much as $5 million per year in free agency.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles has a lot of work to do with this roster ahead of free agency. There are some important decisions to be made about possibly retaining some in-house free agents and big targets set to hit the free agent market.

While in-house names like Allen Robinson, Akiem Hicks, James Daniels and Bilal Nichols are garnering plenty of attention, Jakeem Grant is flying under the radar. The Bears traded for Grant last October to serve as their return specialist, and he turned it into a Pro Bowl and All-Pro season.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Grant could be a surprise player who nets more than many believe when free agency kicks off. Pelissero notes Grant could net as much as $5 million per year after accounting for $1.5 million in 2021 with Chicago.

The Bears got a bargain last October, acquiring Grant from the Dolphins for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. He scored a 97-yard touchdown on a punt return against the Packers on the way to his second consecutive second-team All-Pro nod as a return man. A new deal could yield over $5 million a year, which would make Grant the NFL’s highest-paid pure return specialist. 

While Grant is primarily a return specialist, he also showed an ability to serve as depth at wide receiver. His speed makes him a dangerous weapon that could certainly have new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy intrigued. But if Grant is going to cost $5 million, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for him to be retained primarily as a special teams player.

It’s a similar situation the Bears encountered last offseason with kick return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson, who was a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro during his time in Chicago. Ultimately, the Bears couldn’t afford to pay a primarily special teams player and let him walk. It wound up working out for Patterson, who signed with the Falcons and became a dynamic playmaker on offense as a running back.

We’ll see if Grant ultimately returns to Chicago. But the Bears have bigger issues than re-signing a punt returner, especially if someone like Dazz Newsome figures to factor into the equation.

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10 moves the Bears should make in free agency

Free agency is just around the corner, and the Bears have some big needs to address. Here are some potential moves they should consider:

The Chicago Bears have some pressing needs to address heading into free agency, and they have plenty of salary cap space to make some moves. There are starting jobs and depth holes to fill.

For new general manager Ryan Poles, he has some important decisions to make about whether to re-sign some pending free agents, including Allen Robinson, James Daniels and Akiem Hicks. But there’s also a slew of talent set to hit the open market at several areas of need.

With free agency just around the corner, we’re taking a look at 10 moves the Bears should consider making to improve their roster:

6 Bears who could be next in line for a contract extension

From Roquan Smith to James Daniels, here are a handful of Bears players who have made a strong case for a contract extension.

The offseason fun is about to begin with free agency just a couple of weeks away. For new Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles, he’s about to start assembling a roster that could look a lot different than from a year ago.

Not only will Poles be looking to secure talent on the free-agent market, he has some decisions to make about potential contract extensions, including most notably linebacker Roquan Smith.

There are a handful of Bears players who could be in line for a contract extension — some currently under contract and others who are set to become a free agent.

Here’s a look at six Bears players who have made a strong case for a contract extension looking ahead to the 2022 season: