BEREA — Projecting the Browns roster in previous iterations was tough enough. The reason is the low number of spots truly available because of the number of players seen as locks .
This roster projection, which comes one week before the final cutdown to the initial 53-man roster, has been made even more difficult because of a training camp-long trend of injuries, especially at key positions. Still, one must soldier on even through these difficult conditions.
That's what we'll do here, as we once again take a stab at what the Browns' initial 53-man roster will look like at 4 p.m. Aug. 27 — who's in, who's out and who may start the season on the injured reserve list.
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Browns 53-man roster projection
Quarterbacks (3)
- IN: Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
- OUT: Tyler Huntley
Thompson-Robinson's strong camp, as well as two solid preseason game performances going into this week's finale, have only solidified what most people expected. The second-year pro will be the No. 3 quarterback behind Watson and Winston. The question remains if they're able to flip Huntley, who would have value on the trade market for a quarterback-needed team.
Running backs (4)
- IN: Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong Jr., D'Onta Foreman, Nyheim Hines
- INJURED RESERVE: Nick Chubb
- OUT : Aidan Robbins
Added a category here because it fits, as it seems like Chubb is heading toward starting the season on injured reserve. A new rule allows for teams to designate two players for return without them initially having been on the 53-man roster. It seems like that's where Chubb goes, unless there's a wild change in expectations in the next week. Hines also hasn't practiced to this point, but the guess here is that he at least returns from the physically unable to perform list in the next week.
Wide receivers (6)
- IN: Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash, David Bell
- OUT : James Proche II, Jaelon Darden, Ahmarean Brown, Michael Woods II
The first four names on this list are straightforward and easy. Bell, despite a preseason quad injury, seems like he's safe after what had been a solid camp up until the injury. From there, it feels like the sixth spot could be any one of Thrash, Woods or Proche, the latter especially for his return ability.
Tight ends (3)
- IN: David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Zaire Mitchell-Paden
- OUT : Treyton Welch, Giovanni Ricci
Ricci would've been the third tight end if not for the knee injury he sustained in the second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. Now it's a question of whether it will be Mitchell-Paden or Welch who gets the nod for that spot. Mitchell-Paden gets it in this projection.
Offensive linemen (10)
- IN: Ethan Pocic, Nick Harris, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Michael Dunn, Zak Zinter, Dawand Jones, Jedrick Wills Jr., James Hudson II, Germain Ifedi
- INJURED RESERVE: Jack Conklin
- OUT : Chim Okorafor, Javion Cohen, Wyatt Davis, Zack Johnson, Lorenzo Thompson, Roy Mbaeteka
The feeling here is that, of the two linemen who have spent all camp on the physically unable to perform list, Wills actually gets removed from that list before the cutdown date. Conklin's been around the team, but has only been seen on the field a couple of times during camp. It wouldn't be surprising if they were extra cautious with his return and use the other injured reserve spot on him.
Defensive linemen (9)
- IN: Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Alex Wright, Dalvin Tomlinson, Maurice Hurst II, Quinton Jefferson, Mike Hall Jr., Shelby Harris
- OUT : Isaiah Thomas, Isaiah McGuire, Sam Kamara, Jeremiah Martin, Jowon Briggs, Siaki Ika, Chris Williams
There's some questions about the exact number of ends or tackles the Browns really do keep. This projection goes with four ends and five tackles, since defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is likely to use a third end in many situations. This leaves some hard cuts, including Kamara, who's had a solid camp, and Ika, who was taken in the third round just last year.
Linebackers (5)
- IN: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jordan Hicks, Tony Fields II, Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate
- OUT : Nathaniel Watson, Landon Honeycutt, Caleb Johnson, Brandon Bouyer-Randle, Winston Reid
Injuries have crippled this group throughout camp, but the expectation is that two key ones — Hicks and Fields — will be back for the season. The two cuts that really hurt are Watson and Reid, both of whom have had solid camps, but may get caught in the numbers crunch.
Defensive backs (10)
- IN: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson Jr., Cameron Mitchell, Kahlef Hailassie, Justin Hardee Sr., Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill, Rodney McLeod, Ronnie Hickman
- OUT : Myles Harden, Tony Brown II, D'Anthony Bell, Faion Hicks, Chris Edmonds, Chase Williams, Tyler Coyle
This was one of the toughest group to figure out, because there are a couple of critical players who have been out all camp (Newsome, Bell) and others (Harden, Hailassie) who have been so good in camp it's hard to imagine them getting cut. However, Hardee's such a key special teams piece that leaving him off didn't make sense either. So Harden was an incredibly tough cut. Trying to figure out the balance between cornerbacks and safeties, the edge was given to corners with the thought that Schwartz will run more three-corner nickel than three-safety nickel.
Specialists (3)
- IN: Dustin Hopkins, Corey Bojorquez, Charley Hughlett
- OUT : Cade York, Rex Sunahara
Hopkins spent the preseason battling a minor injury, as did Hughlett. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski didn't think they were injuries that would linger into the season, so we'll go with that information. York may have used the opportunities he's had to kick this preseason to interest another team in bringing him in if they need a kicker.
∙ Kevin Stefanski taking left tackle situation 'day to day' ∙ Deshaun Watson just focused on performing, be it in practice or games ∙ Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah get new 3-year extension ∙ 'Plan' is for Deshaun Watson to play in preseason finale ∙ Zak Zinter, Javion Cohen grow as rookies on offensive line
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns 53-man roster projection: Predictions for David Bell, others on cut line
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