Browns add Kenyan Drake among a flurry of practice squad roster moves

Cleveland has re-arranged their practice squad

The Cleveland Browns, on the day of the trade deadline, have been quite busy. However, none of it has anything to do with making a trade. Instead, the Browns have made a flurry of moves to their practice squad roster, including the addition of veteran running back Kenyan Drake. The former Alabama running back was in Cleveland for a workout last week, and now finally lands on the practice squad a few days later.

Drake teased his signing to the Browns this morning on Twitter, but now the news is officially official. While the Browns have been busy reconstructing their practice squad, do not discount general manager Andrew Berry from making a trade before the 4 PM deadline today. The team is rumored to be interested in bringing back quarterback Jacoby Brissett, as well as dipping their toes in the wide receiver market.

For now, however, here are all of the moves the Browns made to their practice squad today.

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Browns OT Ty Nsekhe leaves Seahawks game with a bicep injury

Offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe leaves Seahawks game with a bicep injury.

Offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe has been ruled out of the Seahawks game after suffering a bicep injury. The 38-year-old veteran tackle was signed to the Browns’ practice squad for most of the season. Nsekhe was promoted to the active roster yesterday. The journeyman tackle was injured in his only play. Hopefully, the injury isn’t too serious for the veteran tackle. It’s always sad to see a career put in jeopardy by injury.

The Browns lost starting offensive tackle Dawand Jones before halftime with a shoulder injury. James Hudson III is the current right tackle.

The Browns are battling the Seahawks going into the final minutes of the game. The team will have to depend on their offensive passing game at some moment during the end. Hopefully, they will not be further affected by injuries.

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Browns elevate RB Jordan Wilkins and OT Ty Nsekhe from practice squad vs. Seahawks

The Cleveland Browns brought up running back Jordan Wilkins and offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe for some much-needed depth in Week 8.

The Cleveland Browns elevated two practice squad players to the active roster ahead of their Week 8 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Cleveland elevated running back Jordan Wilkins and offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe, the team announced Saturday, to provide some much-needed depth in the face of a few injuries on offense.

Wilkins spent time with the Browns during the preseason and was officially signed to the practice squad on Oct. 24. He previously played four games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and from 2018-2020. Wilkins played one season with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. For his career, Wilkins has rushed 208 times for 1,009 yards and four touchdowns. He could see action if Jerome Ford, who’s questionable with an ankle injury, cannot suit up on Sunday. Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong Jr. would be the other two running backs.

Similarly, Nsekhe could see action if fellow offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (ankle, foot) cannot play. Nsekhe had been activated once this season already after the Browns brought him up from the practice squad for Week 3 against the Titans. He played five special team snaps in the 27-3 win for Cleveland. The 38-year-old Nsekhe previously played for Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams with 25 career starts.

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Browns elevating OT Ty Nsekhe from the practice squad vs. Titans

The Browns are calling up another offensive lineman from the practice squad.

The Cleveland Browns have yet to elevate any players from the practice squad through the first two weeks of the season. That will change in Week 3, however, as offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe will be elevated for the matchup against the Tennessee Titans (according to the Akron Beacon Journal’s Chris Easterling).

Reserve swing tackle James Hudson III has been working through an ankle injury this week for the Browns. He has not practiced throughout this shortened week after a Monday Night game in Week 2 and was given a gameday designation of questionable against the Titans.

This call-up of Nsekhe brings another offensive tackle with starting experience to the sidelines as it seems like Hudson III will not be able to go on Sunday. Hopefully, Nsekhe will not have to see the field, but it is nice to have contingencies in place just in case the Browns need to break the glass.

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Browns make flurry of roster moves as OT Jack Conklin goes on IR

With Jack Conklin officially on Injured Reserve, the Browns made a flurry of moves to adjust their roster.

Despite their dominant win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Week 1 was not all good news for the Cleveland Browns. Veteran offensive tackle Jack Conklin suffered another season-ending injury, this time tearing both his ACL and MCL after just signing a contract extension last season. He has officially been placed on Injured Reserve as the Browns have signed fan favorite offensive guard Michael Dunn off of the practice squad to fill his roster spot on the 53-man roster.

That was not the only move the Browns made, however, as they then had Dunn’s practice squad spot to fill. They then made an additional practice squad move as well, so they had to clear another spot on the reserves. It was a busy day in Berea.

Here are all of the moves the Browns made to their roster today, as it was a domino effect after they ended Conklin’s season and placed him on IR.

The NFL’s best available free agents as training camps begin

As training camps begin, and the preseason is nearly upon us, here are the best free agent players left in the NFL.

Rookies and veterans are reporting to training camps around the NFL, which means that our long national nightmare of life without professional football is nearly over. Yay, but for a lot of veterans in the league, there’s still an element of waiting by the phone to hear from their agents regarding interests from NFL teams.

Not every veteran — even veterans who are still playing at a high level — have homes when training camps start. A lot of the players listed below will find those homes before preseason games begin in early August, and some will have to wait longer. (Yes, there are veterans who would prefer to eschew training camp entirely, and that has something to do with it).

So, as we head into the pre-preseason, here are the best players who, at this point, are still looking for their new NFL destinations.

Commanders season opener in 79 days: Washington’s best No. 79?

Remember when Washington stole Jim Lachey in a trade with the Raiders?

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Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 79 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 79?

Ty Nsekhe (2015-18) was a good swing tackle for Washington. At 6-8, 325 Nsekhe was massive at either tackle position. In 2016 he was forced into action as a starter four straight games during another suspension of starter Trent Williams. Though not Trent Williams, Nsekhe performed admirably.

Coy Bacon came to Washington in 1978, but couldn’t wear jersey No. 79 because Ron McDole was playing his last NFL season in No. 79. Bacon then wore No. 79 his last three NFL seasons 1979-81, generating an impressive 13.5 and 11.0 sacks in ’79 and ’80. At age 39, in 1981, Bacon had three sacks in three games before an injury cut his season short, ending his NFL career.

Ron McDole was one of the original “Over the Hill Gang” brought to Washington by George Allen in 1971. McDole played through the 1978 season. The former Nebraska Cornhusker collected 42.5 sacks in his eight seasons in Washington, including his career high of 9.5 in 1976 at the age of 37. Almost magically, the defensive end in a four man front, intercepted six passes with Washington, including a touchdown in 1971. He is the second-best to wear No. 79 in franchise history.

Jim Lachey is the best Washington player to have worn No. 79. The former Ohio State Buckeye was traded to Washington in the Jay Schroeder trade to the Raiders. Lachey was instantly a starter at left tackle, as Joe Jacoby was moved to right tackle. Lachey was a Pro Bowler three consecutive seasons 1989-91 and first team All-Pro in 1990 and 1991. Sadly in 1993 a bad knee injury forced out the entire season and limited him to three games in 1995, having played his last at age 32.

 

5 Rams to watch in Week 17 vs. Chargers

The Rams are set to face the Chargers in Week 17 and we have 5 players to keep tabs on during Sunday’s matchup.

The Los Angeles Rams will be the road team in Sunday’s matchup with their neighbors, the Los Angeles Chargers, at SoFi Stadium. The Rams are looking to build off of their lopsided 51-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 16 with a strong finish to the season.

Entering Week 17, the Rams now boast a 5-10 record, good enough for third place in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Chargers own a 9-6 record and have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2018.

Ahead of the battle of Los Angeles, here are five players to watch from the Rams

Rams injury report: Aaron Donald, Ty Nsekhe DNP on Wednesday

Aaron Donald and Ty Nsekhe didn’t practice during the Rams’ walk thru on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Rams released their first injury report of the week ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers and there are a couple of notable names that didn’t practice. While the Rams held a walk thru on Wednesday, Aaron Donald and Ty Nsekhe weren’t present for practice.

Donald continues to miss practice due to a high-ankle sprain as Sean McVay has shared the Rams don’t expect him to play again this season. Nsekhe missed Wednesday’s practice due to an illness, so it’s worth monitoring his status as he’s started in six straight games at left tackle for the Rams.

Besides Donald and Nsekhe, Brian Allen, Tyler Higbee, Ben Skowronek, and John Wolford were unable to practice. Higbee seems like he has the best shot to play on Sunday with the Rams giving him a rest day on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Chargers didn’t practice on Wednesday, but Austin Ekeler was limited in their estimation and Derwin James was a DNP. Sebastian Joseph-Day practiced in full ahead of his first game against his former team.

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Sean McVay shares injury updates on A’Shawn Robinson and Ty Nsekhe

Sean McVay said A’Shawn Robinson’s knee injury “doesn’t look good,” but Ty Nsekhe’s ankle injury seems to be minor

A’Shawn Robinson and Ty Nsekhe both went down with injuries during Sunday’s game against the Saints and were unable to return. Robinson injured his knee and Nsekhe hurt his ankle, leaving the Rams without two starters on each line.

On Monday, Sean McVay shared updates on Robinson and Nsekhe. Robinson’s knee injury seems like the more severe of the two, with McVay saying it “doesn’t look good.” He didn’t say how long he could be out, however.

Nsekhe has a sprained ankle and McVay said there’s a chance he could play this weekend against the Chiefs. Bobby Evans replaced Nsekhe on Sunday and struggled mightily in pass protection, allowing five pressures.

If Nsekhe can’t play, the Rams would likely be looking at their 11th different starting offensive line combination in 11 games.

Marquise Copeland, Michael Hoecht and Bobby Brown would be first in line to replace Robinson if he’s out awhile.

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