The Browns placed Grant (knee) on injured reserve by the Browns on Sunday.
Grant suffered a ruptured right patellar tendon during Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs. He was set to serve as the Browns' top kick returner in 2023, but now that he's out for the season, Cleveland will have to look elsewhere to fill those duties.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Done for season
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Grant suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs and is out for the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Grant was expected to be Cleveland's return man this season, but instead, the veteran wideout will need to spend the 2023 campaign recovering. The Browns will now likely turn to Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jerome Ford to handle those duties.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Suffers significant injury
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Grant sustained a potential broken patella in his knee during Saturday's 33-32 preseason loss to the Chiefs, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Grant is slated to undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine whether his patella is possibly broken or torn, as a torn patella could sideline him for the entire 2023 campaign. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski also expressed Saturday that he feels horrible for Grant, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, likely indicating that this injury will sideline him for an extended period of time either way. The 5-foot-7 slot receiver hasn't made much of an impact in the passing game during his career, but he has accumulated two kick-return touchdowns and four punt-return touchdowns over the past six seasons. Should Grant miss significant playing time, Donovan Peoples-Jones could step up as the Browns' primary punt returner while Jerome Ford, who is questionable for Week 1 with a hamstring injury, would likely take over kick-return duties.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Suffers leg injury
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Grant exited Saturday's preseason finale after suffering an apparent leg injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The Browns' team doctors had to put an air cast on Grant following the injury, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network, which indicates this is a serious issue. Aside from an 11-game stint with the Bears in 2021, the veteran returner has spent most of his six-year career in Miami. He's been working on a fresh start in Cleveland and had been expected to return both kicks and punts for the team before suffering this injury. It remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Will return kicks Saturday
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Grant will return kickoffs and punts during Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs, Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Grant has not yet appeared in any of the Browns' preseason games while he was brought along slowly from an Achilles' injury. Despite not appearing in game action, Grant has been a full practice participant and often taken the first (and sometimes only) reps as the returner. Stefanski said he doesn't need to see Grant on offense before making a roster decision, so it appears that Grant will secure a roster spot heading into the regular season, if he comes out of Saturday's game in good health. The back end of the wideout depth chart remains murky in terms of health and the number of wideouts the team plans to keep. Marquise Goodwin (illness), Jaelon Darden (leg) and Anthony Schwartz (hamstring) are iffy heading into Saturday's preseason finale.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Participates in full-team drills
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Grant (Achilles) made his first appearance during full-team drills Monday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
It's a step forward for Grant, who had been limited to fielding kickoffs and punts and focused on individual drills. He's not guaranteed a roster spot, but if Grant makes enough progress before roster cuts, he'll put himself in position to make the team and win either or both of the return jobs. Fellow wideout Jaelon Darden is a return-game option as well, but he's missed the last five practices with a leg injury.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Still limited
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Grant did not play in Thursday's preseason game against the Jets and remains limited at practice as he tries to return from a torn Achilles tendon, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Grant has been first in line at kick-return drills but has yet to practice at full speed. The Browns signed him in 2022 to reform the return game, but Grant is not a lock for a roster spot until he can work at full health and compete in games. Hassan Hall handled the return duties Thursday, but the role is expected to be handled by Grant, Jerome Ford or Jaelon Darden (leg).
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Active in practice
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Grant (Achilles) participated in Tuesday's practice and took his most reps to date, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.
Grant, who sustained a torn Achilles last year during training camp, participated in both kick and punt return drills. With Marquise Goodwin (illness) on the active/non-football illness list, Grant could receive additional opportunities on offense in camp and during preseason games. He and Jaelon Darden, who also participated in return drills Tuesday, are in the mix for what appears to be the same role, that of a fifth or sixth receiver that can also help in the return game.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Expects to be ready for camp
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Grant (Achilles) expects to be ready for the start of training camp, according to Noah Weiskopf of Browns Digest.
"Absolutely, 100 percent," Grant said when asked if he'll be ready for camp. The 30-year-old signed a three-year, $10 million deal with Cleveland last offseason but suffered a torn Achilles in training camp and missed all of 2022. At the end of March, Grant estimated he was at "85-90 percent" and suggested he could even get on the field for OTAs. Grant is unlikely to play a big role on offense behind Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Donovan Peoples-Jones, but he should be the favorite for returner duties.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Out for year
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Grant will miss the 2022 season after tests confirmed he suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in Tuesday's practice, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
The 29-year-old depth receiver and return specialist reportedly was having a strong training camp before his season-ending injury. With Grant out, there's an opening for Demetric Felton or D'Ernest Johnson (among others) to return kicks and punts for Cleveland.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Torn Achilles feared
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Grant may have suffered a season-ending torn Achilles during Tuesday's practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The report notes that the Browns are awaiting final word on Grant's injury, but it appears as though the 29-year-old is in for an extended absence. In that scenario, Cleveland's return game would take a major hit, while the depth of the team's wideout corps would also be impacted ahead of Week 1.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Departs practice with leg injury
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Grant (leg) was carted off during Tuesday's camp session, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Unfortunate news strikes Tuesday for Cleveland, as Grant was carted off the practice field and was unable to put any weight on his left leg. Recently, the seventh-year return specialist has taken more practice reps at receiver than he's used to, as many of the Browns' pass catchers have missed a portion of training camp attending to injuries. Expect to hear more regarding the severity of Grant's injury within the upcoming days, but from the way this sounds, Cleveland may be without the 29-year-old Week 1 against the Panthers.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Gets steady reps
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Grant has benefited from injuries at wide receiver to get steady reps during drills, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.
Grant's primary role with Cleveland will be as a returner, but he and Michael Woods have showcased skills with the opportunity. Grant is one of the quicker players on the field and can be dangerous in the open field. None of the sidelined wideouts are dealing with significant injuries, so Grant's reps will eventually dry up.
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Browns' Jakeem Grant: Heading to Cleveland
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Grant (ankle) agreed to a three-year deal with the Browns on Tuesday that's worth up to $13.8 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Grant missed the final game of 2021 with an ankle issue, but it won't affect his outlook in free agency. Chicago acquired the 29-year-old from Miami in October, and he finished the campaign with 11 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 493 yards on 21 kick returns and 250 yards and one touchdown on 18 punt returns. Grant is likely to see most of his action in the return game for Cleveland, as well.
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Bears' Jakeem Grant: No practice Wednesday
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Grant didn't practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury.
Grant may have picked up the injury in the Bears' Week 17 win over the Giants on Sunday, when he was limited to only 11 snaps (six on offense, five on special teams). If he can't get back on the practice field before week's end, he'll likely sit out the Bears' season finale in Minnesota.
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Bears' Jakeem Grant: In clear for Week 17
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Grant (concussion) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Grant was a full participant in practices Wednesday through Friday, but it wasn't until the release of Friday's injury report that the Bears confirmed the wideout had cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. The head injury prevented Grant from playing Week 16 in Seattle, but now that he's healthy again, he should have a small role in the Bears' offensive game plan as a gadget player and option for slot snaps. He'll also reclaim his usual duties as the Bears' top return man.
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Bears' Jakeem Grant: Starts week with full practice
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Grant (concussion) practiced fully Wednesday.
Grant's full participation in practice is certainly an encouraging sign after he missed last week's game due to a concussion he sustained in Week 15 against Minnesota. There hasn't been official confirmation of Grant clearing the NFL's concussion protocol, but Grant certainly has a chance of suiting up Sunday against the Giants and reclaiming his roles as a depth receiver on offense and a return man on special teams.
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Bears' Jakeem Grant: Ruled out with concussion
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Grant (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest at Seattle.
Grant left Monday's game against the Vikings after suffering a concussion, and he has yet to gain clearance to return. His absence will be most felt on special teams, though he has seen increased snaps as a receiver of late due to the depletion of healthy Bears wideouts. Khalil Herbert should handle kick returns while Damiere Byrd figures to take over punt returns in Grant's absence.
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Bears' Jakeem Grant: Leaves with concussion
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Grant left Monday night's game against Minnesota after suffering a concussion.
Grant took a shot in the first half and was knocked out of the game after being diagnosed with a concussion. Prior to his departure, he returned two punts for a total of five yards while turning a pair of rushing attempts into another 17 yards. Grant's absence came back to bite the Bears later in the game, as Damiere Byrd muffed a punt at the start of the fourth quarter. Grant will have a short week to recover and will need to pass through the league's concussion protocol to play Sunday at Seattle.
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Bears' Jakeem Grant: Back at practice
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Grant was a full participant in Friday's practice after sitting out Thursday's walk-through session due to an illness.
Grant was one of eight Bears who wasn't on the field Thursday on account of an illness. All but one of those players returned to the field Friday as full participants, temporarily alleviating some concern about a team-wide COVID-19 breakout. With that in mind, Grant should be ready to go for Monday's game against the Vikings. He's coming off a big Week 14 game in which he returned a punt for a touchdown and turned in his lone reception for a 46-yard score in the Bears' 45-30 loss to the Packers.
