Tag: Jordan Kunaszyk

Browns elevate linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk, defensive tackle Roderick Perry II from practice squad

Both players will seek to play their first snaps on the #Browns defense in Week 2.

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With a matchup against the New York Jets just a day away, the Cleveland Browns have elevated two players from their practice squad. Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk and defensive tackle Roderick Perry are now eligible to play in Sunday’s game and may be called on to make some plays if the team decides to activate them.

Cleveland announced the move on Twitter:

Both players are set to play their first defensive snaps with the Browns if they see action against the Jets, though Kunaszyk is likely to see the field exclusively on special teams. The linebacker was involved in 22 of Cleveland’s special teams snaps last week, good for 69 percent of the team’s total opportunities in that phase.

Perry, on the other hand, is a rookie seeking to play the first snaps of his NFL career. His elevation comes on the heels of a disciplinary incident by the Browns related to rookie defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, who was absent from practice on Friday. It is unknown if the team plans to use Perry as a direct replacement for Winfrey, but the move certainly opens up that possibility.

The Browns’ showdown against the Jets is set to be a slugfest, as both teams look to show their fans they’re ready to compete this season. Both franchises have something to prove in the Week 2 scrap and are likely to bring innovative gameplans into the matchup as they seek to hone their skills before they get into the meat of their schedule.

Cleveland’s decision to elevate Kunaszyk and Perry won’t prove to be the most consequential move they make in the month of September but has significant implications for each player. Both prospects are being given the chance to show that they have what it takes to make it on an NFL defense, and with some luck, could do enough to maintain their status on the 53-man roster.

Browns elevate 2 from practice squad, WR Michael Woods II out against Panthers

Two up from the practice squad, both had made the team’s initial 53-man, and Woods out for the game today:

After what seemed like the long offseason in Cleveland Browns history, we have finally made it to Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. A lot will be talked about after this week’s slate of games, especially in relation to QB Baker Mayfield, but today is only one of 17 games this season.

For the Browns, the season will be split up into segments of 11 games and the final six games with Jacoby Brissett leading one the first and Deshaun Watson leading the second.

For Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland has elevated two players cut after the initial 53-man roster:

  • DE Isaac Rochell
  • LB Jordan Kunaszyk

Rochell can rotate inside and on the edge while Kunaszyk will likely be used on special teams.

Those two elevations mean two other players will be inactive.

One of those inactive players will be WR Michael Thomas II who was ruled out by the team due to his ongoing hamstring issues. Thomas missed a lot of time late in training camp but was not placed on injured reserve.

We will keep you up to date on everything Browns this morning as we ramp up to kickoff. The official inactive list should come out around 11:30 AM.

Lions claim OL Drew Forbes, LB Jordan Kunaszyk signs to Browns practice squad

Forbes joins the GM that drafted him while Kunaszyk could be useful on special teams early in the year if needed:

The constant movement on the Cleveland Browns roster can be dizzying. GM Andrew Berry doesn’t like to keep things status quo, especially at the bottom of the 53-man roster.

Monday, we got confirmation that OL Joe Haeg and TE Jesse James were signing with the team which led to the Browns waiving OL Drew Forbes and LB Jordan Kunaszyk.

Forbes was one of many backups on the interior of the offensive line where Berry decided the need at offensive tackle and the talent of Haeg was more needed. Kunaszyk was one of the surprise members of the initial 53-man roster.

One day later, the waiver process has concluded with Forbes being claimed by the Detroit Lions and Kunaszyk going unclaimed and returning to the team’s practice squad.

The Lions claiming Forbes does not come as a surprise. John Dorsey was Cleveland’s general manager when Forbes was selected and Detroit has some talent deficiencies around their roster.

It was also not surprising for Kunaszyk to go unclaimed. The Browns signed him late in training camp as he waited around for an opportunity. He could be brought up if needed for special teams duties early in the season.

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Browns make 4 moves: Confirm two signings, waive two

Two signings were made official to the 53-man roster and two players were waived to make room:

The Cleveland Browns had a busy weekend with moves just becoming official on Monday through the NFL’s official transaction document.

Two moves discussed over the weekend became official as the team signed OL Joe Haeg and TE Jesse James to the 53-man roster. James and Haeg both visited with the team earlier in the week.

Haeg gives the team some depth at tackle with Jack Conklin recovering from his major knee injury last year. James gives the Browns a third tight end behind David Njoku and Harrison Bryant.

Brad Stainbrook of The OBR had the initial report on James’ signing on Friday.

To make room for Haeg and James, Cleveland released OL Drew Forbes and LB Jordan Kunaszyk.

Forbes was the team’s sixth-round draft pick in 2019. He’s only played in three games with the Browns since being drafted.

Kunaszyk was added to the training camp roster late but was an important part of special teams leading to him making the initial 53-man roster.

Both Forbes and Kunaszyk could be brought back on the team’s practice squad if they clear waivers.

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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 sign LB Jordan Kunaszyk after a tryout

Browns sign LB Jordan Kunaszyk after a tryout and waived LB Kelly Silas with injury designation

The Cleveland Browns have churned the bottom of the roster once again in GM Andrew Berry’s aggressive pursuit of more talent. On Tuesday, the Browns signed free agent LB Jordan Kunaszyk after a successful tryout with the team.

Kunaszyk, 25, is entering his fourth NFL season. He spent the last two seasons playing for the Washington Football Team (now Commanders) after playing his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers. Kunaszyk has appeared almost exclusively on special teams across his three seasons, seeing action on just 19 defensive reps in 26 career games.

The Browns had room for Kunaszyk, who played collegiately at California, after waiving rookie LB Silas Kelly with an injury designation.

Kunaszyk was one of four players to have an official tryout with the Browns. They chose to sign the veteran LB over fellow LBs Leon Jacobs and Omari Cobb, as well as TE Ethan Wolf.

Vikings bring LB Jordan Kunaszyk in for a tryout

Minnesota Vikings brought LB Jordan Kunaszyk in for a tryout.

Ever since linebacker Anthony Barr was placed on IR, the Vikings have done their due diligence in trying to find depth at linebacker.

Minnesota elevated linebacker Hardy Nickerson from the practice squad to the active roster. The team brought in linebacker Cale Garrett for a tryout, then the team signed him to the practice squad.

Now, the Vikings have brought in another linebacker for a tryout. Jordan Kunaszyk visited with the Vikings.

In 2019, Kunaszyk signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent. Before the season started this year, Carolina waived Kunaszyk.

If he was to hypothetically sign with the team, Kunaszyk probably projects as a linebacker either on the practice squad or near the bottom of the depth chart. He could be of value on special teams if need be.

Barr’s injury is a big blow to the Vikings linebacker unit. It will be hard to replace a player of his caliber, but at least it appears Minnesota is trying to strengthen depth at his position.

Panthers injury updates: Shaq Thompson, Troy Pride Jr., Temarrick Hemingway

linebacker Shaq Thompson did not participate today after leaving Monday’s practice early.

Unless the plan is to get the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL draft, the last thing the Carolina Panthers can afford this season are injuries at cornerback.

Bad news: today at training camp, rookie corner Troy Pride Jr. limped off  during gunner drills to get attention from the trainers.

There’s no word yet on what happened and Pride did return to drills soon after. We will update if head coach Matt Rhule shares any information about him after practice.

In related news, linebacker Shaq Thompson did not participate today after leaving Monday’s practice early. Fortunately, this doesn’t sound like it’s serious.

On a positive note, tight end Temarrick Hemingway returned to practice after missing a few days in the concussion protocol. He has at least been cleared for non-contact drills.

Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk also returned to action after missing a couple days with an ankle issue.

Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless is still out, dealing with swelling in his knee.

Rookie defensive tackle Bravvion Roy also did not participate.

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Panthers‌ ‌injury‌ ‌updates:‌ ‌WR‌ ‌Omar‌ ‌Bayless,‌ ‌LB‌ ‌Jordan‌ ‌Kunaszyk‌ ‌

After practice, coach Matt Rhule gave the media some injury news on each of them.

The Panthers had three players who did not participate in today’s practice – rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless sat out, as did linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk and tight end Temarrick Hemingway.

They were all wearing red jerseys – which now denote injuries – while quarterbacks wear green.

After practice, coach Matt Rhule gave the media some injury news on each of them. Apparently Bayless’ knee got swollen overnight, which was why he was held out. As for Kunaszyk, he is dealing with an ankle issue.

Bayless had been performing well, drawing praise from Rhule as well as a lot of his older, more experienced teammates. Despite the setback, his chances of making the 2020 roster should be as good as any of the rookies on offense. Bayless’ size (6-foot-3) and wingspan (76.880 inches) make him a red zone weapon that the Panthers can’t easily replicate.

Kunaszyk looked sharp during the preseason last year, which helped secure his place on the roster. This year, it’s a tougher sell with no exhibition games plus several new young linebackers competing for a spot. Kunaszyk is likely on the bubble, but right now we believe he will make it.

As for Hemingway, he is still in the concussion protocol. He is probably in danger of being cut and every day he misses will hurt his chances more.

In related news, wide receiver Keith Kirkwood will be out several weeks with a broken clavicle and left tackle Russell Okung has some back tightness but isn’t expected to miss any time.

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