Nick Chubb will be watching Jerome Ford fill the Browns RB1 role for at least the first four weeks of the regular season. Chubb will remain on PUP at least another month. (TheLandOnDemand)
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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.
Takeaways from Browns roster moves …
Uncertainty due to several injury situations served to paralyze Browns training camp and preseason at times this summer.
Now that the 53 roster deadline is upon us, actions are being taken to clarify what the team will look like heading into Dallas week.
Another batch of moves has to be made by 4 p.m. Here’s what we know so far.
1. Offensive line shaping up
Prior to taking questions on a Zoom call with media, coach Kevin Stefanski announced that five players on PUP or NFI had been cleared from those lists by passing physicals.
They are: offensive tackle Jack Conklin, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, cornerback Greg Newsome, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and safety D’Anthony Bell.
The coach added, however, that Wills will not practice on Tuesday. He also said offensive tackle James Hudson (ankle) would practice.
So who’s the starting left tackle for the Dallas game?
Right now, it appears the Browns are preparing Conklin for the assignment. He was video-recorded by a staff member practicing left-handed pass sets last week.
Conklin has made all 94 NFL starts at right tackle, earning All-Pro on two occasions, but he played all but three of his career starts at Michigan State at left tackle.
It’s possible the Browns could change their minds about Conklin moving to left tackle. But Wills’ uncertainty is pushing too close to the opener to count on him being ready.
2. Running backs in flux
Nick Chubb’s recovery from two knee surgeries last season is continuing, but he will open the season on reserve/PUP and miss a minimum of four games.
Chubb is eligible to begin practicing with the team after that, though it’s not automatic when he would be cleared. Chubb has not practiced with the team since two days before his severe knee injury in Game 2 on September 19.
Jerome Ford will be RB1 heading into the season. Pierre Strong, who suffered a rib contusion in practice last week, will practice on Tuesday, Stefanski said, but D’Onta Foreman (rib) will not.
Also, running back/return specialist Nyheim Hines, who had ACL surgery last July after a jet ski accident, was not cleared from the NFI list. If Hines isn’t cleared from NFI by 4 p.m.Tuesday, he would miss a minimum of four games.
It’s possible the Browns could add to this position group after league-wide roster cuts.
3. Michael Hall’s future
Cleveland.com reported the Browns believe Hall will be placed on the NFL commissioner exempt list.
This seldom-used list would temporarily exempt Hall from roster status, while still being paid, until his case defending a count of misdemeanor domestic violence plays out.
If on this list, Hall could participate in meetings and receive medical treatment by the club, but could not practice or attend games.
Only Commissioner Roger Goodell can make this decision. It is applied, according to the league personal conduct policy, “when a player is formally charged with: 1. a felony offense; or 2. a crime of violence, meaning that he is accused of having used physical force … to injure or threaten a person.”
The incident report filed with Avon police stated that Hall pressed a firearm against the temple of his fiancée during an altercation outside his residence. It has been reported that the alleged victim has since recanted some of the facts in the report.
Hall has a court appearance scheduled for September 10.
When asked about Hall’s roster status, Stefanski said, “I don’t really have an update on Mike in that regard. We’ll see how it goes.”
4. Final cuts to come
In addition to clearing six players from injury lists, the Browns waived the following 16 players:
Safter Tyler Coyle, guard Wyatt Davis, kicker Lucas Havrisik, cornerback Faion Hicks, linebacker Landon Honeycutt, linebacker Caleb Johnson, guard Zack Johnson, defensive end Jeremiah Martin, offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka, linebacker Marvin Moody, offensive tackle Chim Okorafor, running back Aidan Robbins, running back Jacob Saylors, long snapper Rex Sunahara, defensive end Isaiah Thomas and safety Chase Williams (injury designation).
That leaves the Browns roster at 71. GM Andrew Berry has to pare that to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday.