Receiver Michael Woods will spend his second season rehabbing from surgery after rupturing an Achilles tendon in workouts with Deshaun Watson and teammates in Houston this week.
Browns receiver Michael Woods ruptures Achilles tendon in workouts with Deshaun Watson
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The first injury casualty of the Browns’ 2023 season is Michael Woods.
The second-year receiver from Oklahoma suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in informal workouts in Houston with quarterback Deshaun Watson and other teammates. The club confirmed Woods will require surgery and “is likely to miss the entire 2023 season.”
Woods, a sixth-round draft pick in 2022, made the 53 roster as a rookie despite missing the last three weeks of practice with a hamstring injury. He was inactive until the sixth game against New England and wound up with five receptions on 10 targets for 45 yards.
In truth, he was facing an uphill battle in his second season after the Browns added two veteran speedy receivers – Elijah Moore in a trade with the Jets, and Marquise Goodwin in free agency.
Woods certainly would have been in the mix for a roster spot, but now his second season will consist of rehabbing his Achilles.
So here is how the Browns’ receivers room shakes out when the team reports for the start of the offseason program on April 17.
Available roster spots: 6 or 7.
Automatics: Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin.
Probable: David Bell.
In the mix: Anthony Schwartz, Jakeem Grant, Jaelon Darden, Daylen Baldwin, Demetric Felton, Mike Harley, Isaiah Weston, Marquez Stevenson.
While we’re at it, let’s take a look at our projected depth chart elsewhere.
Quarterback: Deshaun Watson, Josh Dobbs, Kellen Mond.
Running back: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, John Kelly, Nate McCrary.
Tight end: David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Jordan Akins, Zaire Mitchell-Paden.
Left tackle: Jedrick Wills, Joe Haeg.
Left guard: Joel Bitonio, Wes Martin.
Center: Ethan Pocic, Nick Harris, Dawson Deaton.
Right guard: Wyatt Teller, Drew Forbes.
Right tackle: Jack Conklin, James Hudson, Tyrone Wheatley.
On to the defense …
Left end: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Anthony Wright.
Left tackle: Jordan Elliott, Trysten Hill, Ben Stille, Tommy Togiai, Michael Dwumfour.
Right tackle: Dalvin Tomlinson, Perrion Winfrey, Maurice Hurst, Roderick Perry.
Right end: Myles Garrett, Isaiah Thomas, Sam Kamara.
Strongside linebacker: Jacob Phillips, Matthew Adams, Jordan Kunaszyk..
Middle linebacker: Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, Storey Jackson.
Weakside linebacker: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Tony Fields.
Cornerback: Denzel Ward, Thomas Graham, Mike Ford.
Cornerback: Greg Newsome, M.J. Emerson, A.J. Green.
Strong safety: Grant Delpit, Bubba Bolden.
Free safety: Juan Thornhill, D’Anthony Bell.
Kicker: Cade York.
Punter: Corey Bojorquez.
Long snapper: Charley Hughlett.
Offseason schedule
It won’t be long until the Browns are back in Berea as a team. Here’s the upcoming schedule.
April 17: Offseason workouts begin.
April 18: Media availability.
April 20: GM Andrew Berry’s pre-draft press conference.
April 27-29: NFL draft.
May 12-14: Rookie minicamp.
Mid-May: NFL schedule released.
May 23-25: OTA voluntary practices.
May 24: Media availability.
May 30-June 1: OTA voluntary practices.
May 31: Media availability.
June 6-8: Mandatory minicamp.
July 20: Unofficial training camp report date.
Aug. 3: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game v. New York Jets, Canton, OH.
