Cleveland Browns

Richardson was a part of a crucial sack in the second quarter, as the Bengals were at the Browns' 11-yard line, but rookie quarterback Joe Burrow was taken down by Richardson and cornerback Kevin Johnson, forcing a field goal. With 2.5 sacks through seven games, Richardson is on track to reach his highest total since the 2014 season (eight), and his average of four tackles per game is a solid IDP floor as well.

Williams has yet to suit up this season due to a shoulder injury, which coach Kevin Stefanski deemed a nerve issue. The second-year cornerback won't need surgery, but there's a chance he misses the rest of the season. Williams won't be eligible to return until a Week 10 matchup against the Texans. Terrance Mitchell has been starting at cornerback in his place and is expected to continue that role moving forward.

Davis will return to the lineup after spending the last two games on the sidelines. Even when he was healthy, Davis rarely played on defense, as B.J. Goodson handled a majority of the snaps at middle linebacker. Davis likely will handle a similar regimen going forward.

Weaver was waived with an injury tag Monday. It's unclear why the Browns made the claim, however, as Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports that Weaver's injury is quite serious. If it's indeed that severe, the Browns may place him on injured reserve to stash him for next season.

Austin Seibert was quickly cut after a whiff in Week 1, and Cody Parkey replaced him and was perfect in Week 2. McCrane is simply depth in case Parkey is hurt or hits a rough patch. However, McCrane hasn't played since 2018 when he made eight of 12 field goals over five games.

Meander was cut by the Jets on Tuesday, and it didn't take long for him to latch on with another club. The 24-year-old didn't suit up in any regular season action last year, but spent time on the Raiders' practice squad. He'll be competing for a depth role and is likely considered to be a long shot to make the roster.

Moffatt will add depth in the Browns' secondary that could be without Denzel Ward (groin) and Greedy Williams (shoulder) in Week 4 against the Cowboys. The undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee State could make his NFL debut Sunday.

A groin injury suffered in practice this week led Gillan to enter with a "questionable" tag, but he'll ultimately make the active roster, preventing Cody Parkey from having to take on the role.

Wilson increased his snap count from six to 27 in his second week back from a knee injury. The 2019 fifth-round pick, who averaged 60 snaps per contest during his rookie season, is expected to be a mainstay in the Browns' linebacking corps once he's ready to play more.

Peoples-Jones has handled the return duties the last four weeks while having little involvement on offense, but that changed this past week when Odell Beckham (knee) sustained a season-ending injury. With KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) slated to return this week, Peoples-Jones may be no better than fourth on the depth chart, but he proved himself last week with a pair of catches on the game-winning drive including a touchdown catch.

Mitchell led the Browns in tackles since Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott attempted 58 passes Sunday, but the cornerback's coverage has been decent this season. Through four games, Mitchell has allowed a 99.1 passer rating while filling in for Greedy Williams (shoulder). Mitchell will likely maintain a consistent role even when Williams returns, but he's probably not worth an add in IDP formats with Sunday's numbers considered an anomaly.

Bryant took advantage of the extra opportunities created by Austin Hooper's (appendix) absence. He scored a three-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10 apiece in the second quarter, then tied it up at 17-all with a six-yard score in the third. With Hooper's appendectomy expected to keep him out through the Week 9 bye, Bryant and the disgruntled David Njoku, who also caught a touchdown, are both poised to keep playing expanded roles at tight end against the Raiders in Week 8.

Brown spent the past season with the Dolphins, appearing in three contests as a depth lineman. He'll likely be used in a similar capacity in 2020 with JC Tretter handling starting duties.

Tretter was limited in three consecutive practices, so it looks like he's still dealing with a lingering knee injury. However, the fact that the starting center doesn't have any sort of injury designation hints that the issue isn't serious enough to endanger his availability.

Falemaka spent the entire season on the Browns' injured reserve after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in July. The 23-year-old is expected to clear waivers, and he'll be free to sign with another team ahead of the offseason program.

Thomas was elevated to the third cornerback and played 28 snaps (47 percent), as the Browns were missing Greedy Williams (shoulder) and Kevin Johnson (abdomen). Thomas could get similar usage Week 2, a short week for the Browns who play Thursday at home against Cincinnati.

Takitaki has been limited since returning to practice earlier this week, but it remains to be seen whether or not he has put in enough work to play in Week 1. Expect a final update on Takitaki's status to come Sunday.

Beckham will be removed from the 53-man roster after an MRI confirmed that he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee during Sunday's 37-34 win over the Bengals. He'll wrap up his second campaign in Cleveland with four touchdown to go with 23 receptions for 319 yards and 72 rushing yards over his seven games. Beckham will turn his focus to rehabbing the knee with the aim of getting back to 100 percent health ahead of the 2021 season.

Natson's season is over, and he'll be placed on injured reserve soon. He mainly just contributes as a returner, so Donovan Peoples-Jones and D'Ernest Johnson will likely battle for that role.

Hooper underwent an emergency appendectomy last Friday and missed Sunday's game against the Bengals as a result. The Browns are expected to let Hooper rest again Week 8, providing the tight end two more weeks to get back to full strength because of the team's Week 9 bye. Harrison Bryant seemed to operate as the top tight end in Hooper's absence, recording a 4-56-2 line against Cincinnati, while David Njoku played fewer snaps and produced a 2-20-1 line.

Since a 95-yard outburst in Week 4's win over the Cowboys, Johnson's had fewer touches in each successive week. He's gone from 13 touches to nine to four and now one as Kareem Hunt demonstrates he can handle a hefty workload. Johnson's window of opportunity is likely closing soon -- the Browns are at home Week 8 against Las Vegas before a bye week, and Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to return soon after that, which will relegate Johnson to No. 3 on the depth chart.

Franks was cut by the Eagle's practice squad a couple of weeks ago, and he'll get a fresh start in Cleveland. The Browns have four healthy tight ends on the active roster, so Franks will operate on the scout team and likely won't be activated unless an injury surfaces.

Lamm started 13 of 15 games at right tackle for the Texans in 2018, making him a relatively luxurious backup for the Browns to have in the holster. The 28-year-old will enter Week 1 at full health after having been plagued by a lingering knee issue last season.

Wills was forced out of Cleveland's loss to Baltimore in Week 1 due to a shin injury, but he's already recovered enough to suit up for Thursday Night Football. The rookie first-round pick will start at left tackle against Cincinnati.

Twenty-three of Hilliard's 29 yards came in the fourth quarter of Sunday's blowout, and the back remains No. 3 on the depth chart behind Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson. Hilliard was on the field for just seven of the Browns' 57 offensive snaps, all in garbage time.

Stefanski also said that Chubb remains on schedule in his recovery from an MCL sprain in his right knee. The standout running back was initially handed a six-week recovery timeframe for his injury, so a return for Cleveland's Week 10 matchup against the Texans would put him right on track. When healthy, Chubb stands to reprise his usual role as the first option in a lethal backfield tandem alongside Kareem Hunt, who's on track for at least one more contest as the Browns' unquestioned top ballcarrier.

Hunt was limited in practice last week due to the same injury, but he didn't end up taking an injury designation into Sunday's 37-34 win over the Bengals. The running back delivered a quality outing for fantasy managers, handling 21 touches while coming through with his seventh touchdown of the season. Since his practice participation seems set to follow a similar pattern to being Week 9, Hunt is expected to be available for a matchup this weekend with a Raiders defense that has struggled to limit running backs both on the ground and though the air.

Clayborn sat out Week 4 due to the hip issue and was questionable to play Sunday, but he'll return to the field after the one-game absence. The 32-year-old has four tackles and two sacks in three games this season.

Young had been waived by the Browns with an injury designation Monday, so he reverted to IR after going unclaimed. His last on-field action came in 2018, when Young played a depth role across two games with the Rams.

Ogunjobi returned to action after missing one game with an abdomen injury. He showed no ill effects from the injury while playing 85 percent of the defensive snaps.

Redwine was solid in a starting role last week for the Browns, hauling in an interception across 19 defensive snaps in the win over the Colts. As long as Ronnie Harrison (concussion) and Karl Joseph (hamstring) are sidelined, expected Redwine to handle starting duties.

Hodge should step back into a familiar role as Cleveland's No. 3 wide receiver, after the Browns placed Odell Beckham (knee) on injured reserve this week. He missed the last three weeks and has been designated to return from injured reserve.

Phillips will miss another game after having aggravated his pre-existing knee injury Week 5. The rookie third-round pick's next chance to retake the field will come Nov. 1 versus the Raiders.

Stefanski's comments suggest there's little cause for concern here, though seeing Garrett back out at practice Thursday would help put any doubts about his status for Sunday's game against the Raiders to bed. Garrett's the engine that drives Cleveland's defense, with nine sacks through seven games.

After the Rams selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, Kelly wasn't afforded much opportunity in a backfield led by Todd Gurley. In the post-Gurley landscape, the RB group was trimmed down to a top three of Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson (hamstring) and Cam Akers. The Rams proceeded to waive Kelly, who now will look to work his way up to the Browns' active roster.

Parris was claimed off of waivers by the Falcons prior to Week 1 but was inactive for the season opener and never figured to be a part of Atlanta's offensive line picture.

Stanton spent the part of the 2019 season on the Vikings' practice squad, but he never elevated to the active roster because C.J. Ham stayed healthy. The Browns have hired former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski to be their head coach this year, and he utilized a fullback in Minnesota. Stanton is currently the only fullback on the Browns' roster.

Malveaux was brought in for a workout by the team Monday, and, as evidence by this news, he made a strong impression with the team. The 26-year-old was last in the league with the Dolphins in 2018, suiting up in four games while accumulating four tackles (one solo) and a sack over that span.

Obinna will spend the rest of the 2020 season on Cleveland's injury reserve unless he reaches an injury settlement with the team.

Stewart was limited in practice all week and entered the opener with a "questionable" designation, but it looks like he's healthy enough to suit up for the divisional matchup. Per Tony Grossi of ESPN, Stewart should see time at nickelback with Kevin Johnson (abdomen) inactive.

The 31-year-old saw a huge uptick in Week 2 with 56 snaps, while racking up nine tackles (five solo). Expect a similar workload for Smith with the start, as he's tasked with slowing down a less-than-stellar Washington offense.

Gustin was added to the Browns' practice squad in November and elevated to the active roster soon after. With Myles Garrett (suspension) and Olivier Vernon (knee) unavailable, playing time was available for anyone that could play the edge, so Gustin's experience at linebacker and defensive end was needed. He's under contract at a reasonable rate for one more season and could be kept around as depth in 2020.

Joseph will return to the lineup after a two-game hiatus to face off against the state rival. Through the first four games of the season, Joseph played nearly every defensive snap at strong safety and recorded 23 tackles, a pass breakup and an interception. He'll now have his eye on rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, who has thrown four picks through six contests.

Ward sealed the game when he picked off a Dak Prescott pass in the red zone with less than two minutes left. He battled a groin injury during the practice week but managed to play all 82 defensive snaps against the Cowboys. And many of those snaps were pass plays -- Prescott dropped back 61 times -- so Ward was active in the win.

Landry's limited status to start the week isn't surprising considering he's playing through a broken rib, but the seven-year veteran hasn't missed a game in his career, so expect Landry to tough it out come Sunday against the Raiders. Despite limited practice reps, Landry should play a prominent role on game day with Odell Beckham (knee) done for the season.

Switzer spent the last two years in Pittsburgh, and he'll now remain in the division as an emergency wideout option for the Browns. He also boasts significant experience as a return man, something Cleveland can use in the wake of losing JoJo Natson (torn ACL) for the season.

Carlson played just 12 snaps (16 percent) and had one target in the season-opening loss to the Ravens but moved up to third on the depth chart behind Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. He broadly fits into the category of blocking tight end, but quarterback Baker Mayfield uses tight ends as red-zone scoring options. Carlson caught five of seven targets with one touchdown in 2019.

The shin injury kept Sendejo from practicing to start the week, but it won't keep him off the field come game day. Sendejo hasn't missed a snap all season and should continue to play a key role in Cleveland's secondary against a Bengals offense that could go more pass-heavy than usual with starting running back Joe Mixon (foot) unavailable.

After being selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Jackson played in just five games for the Cowboys and recorded four tackles. He's buried on the depth chart in Cleveland as well, so he'll likely have minimal impact barring a slew of injuries.

Vernon missed time with an abdominal injury early in the season and seemed to pick up a new groin issue in Week 5, but it won't prevent the starting defensive end from taking the field for the third consecutive week. Adrian Clayborn will be on hand to work opposite Myles Garrett if anything does flare up for Vernon during the contest.

Bitonio was able to play through the injury last week, but it did cost him a practice session Wednesday before he returned on a limited basis both Thursday and Friday. It doesn't appear to be anything that will prevent Bitonio from suiting up and starting at left guard, and the team appears confident he can finish the game, as backup Evan Brown is a healthy scratch for the contest.

Keenum entered the game late in the third quarter after Baker Mayfield was pulled due to the aggravation of his rib injury. The game was already well out of reach, so Keenum wasn't asked to do much in the closing quarter. However, Keenum could be counted on to start in Week 7 against the Bengals if Mayfield is too injured to suit up. Keenum last saw major playing time as the quarterback for Washington in 2019, when he managed a 65 percent completion rate and an 11:5 TD:INT ratio.

Ivie played five games with the Chiefs earlier this year, registering two tackles in a reserve role. The 2017 seventh-round pick likely won't have a consistent role on defense with the Titans.

Delpit suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during Monday's practice. The rookie second-round pick appeared in line to handle a starting gig Year 1, but instead he'll now turn his focus toward rehabbing for 2021. The Browns now turn to Andrew Sendejo and Sheldrick Redwine as candidates to start at free safety.

With Austin Hooper (appendectomy) sidelined, both Njoku and Harrison Bryant were in the starting lineup and each had an impact. Njoku caught the first of three go-ahead scores during a wild, fourth-quarter shootout in Cincinnati, while Bryant scored twice. Njoku, who requested a trade by the Nov. 3 deadline, wants to be a lead tight end somewhere, but the Browns want him around for depth and to be part of the offense that often deploys multiple tight ends. At this point, the team is unwilling to part with him. The Browns have one more game before the trade deadline -- Week 8 against the Raiders -- so they will at least hold onto him through that game. With Hooper expected to return Week 10 after a bye week, Njoku would return to a backup role, competing with Bryant for snaps behind Hooper.

The 26-year-old served as a "break glass if needed" option for the Browns last Thursday night as he was active against the Bengals, though the team felt confident enough to lean on Chris Hubbard at right tackle throughout the contest. Now that Conklin is back to practicing without limitations, the $42 million man is expected to resume his typical role as a starting tackle heading into a showdown against the Chase Young-led Washington front seven.

Elliott was the best interior lineman left on the board at this stage. His production is only middling with 6.0 career sacks in three seasons, but his athleticism is his selling point. The Missouri product ran a 5.02 in the 40-yard dash at 302 pounds and has a variety of pass-rush moves in his arsenal.

Mayfield was a daily entry on injury reports the last two weeks due to rib and chest injuries. The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week enters Week 8 healthy, as the Browns prepare to face a Las Vegas defense that ranks 26th overall and 28th against the pass.

Hubbard missed the season opener against Baltimore and was limited in practice this week while managing an ankle injury, but he looks to have recovered enough to handle a starting role. Usual starter Jack Conklin (ankle, finger) will also be available Thursday, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, but he'll play an emergency reserve role.

The UNLV product joined the 53-man roster just in time to make an appearance in Thursday night's game against the Bengals. Jackson will add depth in the secondary for the club, as he's supplied four solo tackles across seven appearances for the Browns the past two seasons.

Johnson, who had been dealing with an abdomen injury that forced him to miss the first two weeks, also played special teams Sunday. It looks like he's ready to handle a larger share of snaps Week 4 against Dallas. That will be a boost to the secondary, which is without Greedy Williams (shoulder) and lost Denzel Ward (groin) during the Week 3 win.

There was little need for a blocking back in Week 6, as the Browns were behind 24-0 by the second quarter. Exactly like Week 1's blowout loss to the Ravens, in which Janovich played nine snaps, the fullback was on the field just 12 percent of the time.

Taylor has logged 24 NFL games since entering the league in 2017, recording 51 tackles, two sacks and two pass breakups. While Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson are expected to handle the bulk of the work at defensive tackle, Taylor will battle with Jordan Elliott for the remaining reps.

Parkey rebounded from a one-point effort last week to record seven points in the win. The extra-point miss, his first missed kick of any kind this season, came on the final score of the game with 15 seconds remaining. It gave the Bengals a slight window to kick a game-tying field goal instead of needing to go the length of the field, but the Browns strategically managed the clock and the kickoff to leave Cincinnati no option but a Hail Mary pass. Week 8 brings a potentially lucrative matchup against the Raiders, who rank 31st with 32.8 points allowed.

The undrafted rookie out of Louisiana-Lafayette faces an uphill battle to earn a spot on the regular-season roster, but he'll at least have his opportunity to practice with the Browns.

Goodson's second interception of the season stopped the Bengals in the red zone on the game's opening drive when Cincinnati got as far as the Browns' 2-yard line. The seven tackles gives him 52 for the season, within nine of the career-high 61 stops he recorded in 2018. Despite the positive contributions, however, Goodson graded out at replacement level (46.1), according to Pro Football Focus' metrics, Scott Patsko of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Lauletta, a 2018 fourth-round pick of the Giants, will now get an opportunity to further his pro development with the Browns. The move comes shortly after the Cowboys signed quarterback Garrett Gilbert off Cleveland's practice squad.

Harrison missed Week 6 but returned to the lineup and handled a season-high 84 percent of the defensive workload because Karl Joseph was seemingly on a pitch count after shaking off a hamstring injury. It was an excellent game for Harrison, but that may not translate into much future success as an IDP contributor since Joseph's workload should ramp up soon.

Taylor's activation concedes with KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) being placed on IR. The former Titan appeared in three games with Cleveland in 2019, but he was only targeted once in that span. He stands to handle a similar depth role versus the Colts on Sunday.

Stefanski seemed indifferent, at best, when asked about Teller's status, relaying that he wouldn't rule the offensive guard out quite yet. We'll have a better idea of Teller's availability as the practice week progresses. He didn't practice at all last week, so any return to the field would be a step in the right direction.

Cleveland's wideout position was thrown into turmoil last week when Odell Beckham sustained a season-ending knee injury, so it's natural they'll have Hodge ready to play immediately even though they can delay his return up to three weeks. Prior to the season, Hodge had beaten out Higgins for the No. 3 job, but Higgins has been vital since replacing him the last three weeks. He's caught 10 of 11 targets for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including two big catches on the Browns' game-winning drive Week 7 against the Bengals. It's likely the position group starts with Higgins and Jarvis Landry followed by Hodge and Donovan Peoples-Jones when Cleveland hosts Las Vegas this week.