Tag: khadarel hodge

Stefanski: WR KhaDarel Hodge ready to resume practicing with Browns

Hodge has been on I.R. with a hamstring injury

Reinforcements should be on the way soon for the Cleveland Browns receiving corps. Wideout KhaDarel Hodge is set to begin practicing with the team this week and could be activated from injured reserve in time to play in the Week 8 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Hodge is ready to come back to practice after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury that led the team to place him on I.R. Stefanski seemed hopeful in his press conference Monday that Hodge, known for his blocking and special teams prowess, will be activated soon.

The Browns have a need with Odell Beckham Jr. going on I.R. after tearing his left ACL in Sunday’s win over the Bengals. Cleveland has a bye in Week 9 after hosting the Raiders on Sunday.

Possible options for the Browns to replace Odell Beckham Jr.

Browns place WR KhaDarel Hodge on I.R.

Hodge was injured during pre-game warmups in Dallas on Sunday

KhaDarel Hodge was active for Sunday’s game in Dallas but the hard-nosed wide receiver did not play. Hodge injured his hamstring during the pre-game warmups and wound up missing the win over the Cowboys.

The hamstring injury was bad enough that it forced Hodge, the team’s No. 3 wideout and a special teams stalwart, onto injured reserve on Tuesday. Going on I.R. means Hodge will miss at least the next three games.

He is the second Browns offensive player added to the injured reserve this week, joining RB Nick Chubb. Chubb is expected to at least six weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee.

Rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones took over Hodge’s role in the offense in the win over the Cowboys and handled his NFL debut fairly well.

Browns WR coach Chad O’Shea: ‘Competition is still open’ for 3rd WR job

Browns WR coach Chad O’Shea: ‘Competition is still open’ for 3rd WR job

The first two spots on the depth chart at wide receiver are not subject to debate. Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry are firmly entrenched as the Cleveland Browns starters. After that?

Two weeks of training camp practices have yet to sort out who will be No. 3, or beyond that for that matter. Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea made that clear in his Zoom conference with reporters prior to Saturday’s practice.

“The competition is still open,’’ he said. “It’s a very competitive situation on our roster. Nothing is set in stone and we have a lot of guys vying for it.’’

Many expected veteran Rashard Higgins to seize the role, but “Hollywood” has not starred enough to beat out the other players auditioning. KhaDarel Hodge’s return to practice after missing several days to attend to a personal matter only makes the competition more crowded. O’Shea had nothing but positive things to say about Hodge upon his return.

“I’m extremely impressed with him and I have a great deal of respect for how he plays,’’ O’Shea said. “He studies hard, he knows what to do and he’s very good mentally. He can function in multiple roles, and it’s important to add value to the team in several different ways.”

Hodge primarily thrived on special teams in 2019, his first year in Cleveland. But he made plays as a receiver in the first week of camp, and the versatility O’Shea cited only adds value. Higgins is more one-dimensional, though he produced well and showed great chemistry with Baker Mayfield during the quarterback’s rookie season in 2018.

Rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones has also interjected himself into the mix. Peoples-Jones hasn’t been flawless but continues to make big plays when given chances.

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Pharaoh Brown among 3 Browns tendered as exclusive rights free agents

Pharaoh Brown, Dontrell Hilliard and KhaDarel Hodge all tendered as ERFAs

The Cleveland Browns have issued qualifying tender offers to three of their exclusive rights free agents. In what’s more of a paperwork formality, the team locked up the trio for 2020. The Browns announced the move in conjunction with issuing a second-round tender offer to restricted free agent RB Kareem Hunt.

Tight end Pharaoh Brown, running back Dontrell Hilliard and wide receiver/special teams ace KhaDarel Hodge were all issued their tender offers prior to the deadline.

Brown caught just two passes in nine games but demonstrated some promise for a larger role. He’s a Cleveland native.

Hilliard and Hodge made their primary contributions on special teams in 2019. They figure to remain fixtures on those units more than they contribute to the base offense.

An Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA) is a player that has less than three accrued seasons in the NFL but an expired contract. They do not have the ability to negotiate deals with other teams.

Watch: Baker fakes a Steeler out of his shoes, drills a strike to KhaDarel Hodge

The great pump fake and 41-yard pass set up the Browns second TD

Baker Mayfield sure looks like he’s feeling dangerous in the first half of the Thursday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns QB was definitely dangerous for a Pittsburgh pass rusher in the second quarter.

Mayfield gave a pump fake that juked Steelers OLB Jayrone Elliott out of his shoes. Watch Elliott leap and fly past the play, allowing Mayfield to set up and unleash a strike down the field to KhaDarel Hodge.

The play went for 41 yards and helped set up the Browns’ second TD of the night, with Mayfield finding a wide open Jarvis Landry in the left side of the striped end zone to push the Browns up 14-0.