Browns sign WR James Proche II, LB Winston Reid to active roster, waive WR Jaelon Darden

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Browns are shuffling around their return specialists, while also adding more linebacker depth ahead of Sunday's game at the Jacksonville Jaguars. They may also be girding for a second consecutive game with a relative shortage of tackles.

Wide receiver James Proche II and linebacker Winston Reid were signed Saturday to the active roster off the Browns practice squad. The Browns also cut wide receiver Jaelon Darden to get to the normal 53-man limit.

Meanwhile, the Browns elevated offensive tackle Germaine Ifedi and tight end Blake Whiteheart from the practice squad to the gameday roster. The elevation of Whiteheart provides the Browns with a second tight end along with Jordan Akins with Pro Bowler David Njoku out with a high ankle sprain.

The second consecutive elevation of Ifedi is more tackle insurance with Jedrick Wills Jr. out and Jack Conklin listed as questionable. It may, as it did a week ago, mean that Conklin will more likely than not be inactive, meaning James Hudson III would start at left tackle.

Ifedi would be a third tackle along with Hudson and Dawand Jones should Conklin be ruled out for the second game in a row.

Proche appears in line to replace Darden returning kicks and punts. Darden handled those duties in the opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys, averaging 24.3 yards on four kickoff returns 14.4 yards on five punt returns.

The Browns originally signed Proche a year ago after he spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, but originally cut him on Aug. 27 before bringing him back to the practice squad. He returned 22 punts for a 9-yard average a year ago in 10 games, while only returning one kick for 19 yards.

Reid, a rookie undrafted free agent out of Weber State, becomes the second linebacker the Browns have added to the 53-man roster this week due to both Tony Fields II (ankle) and Mohamoud Diabate (hip) going on injured reserve. They also signed Khaleke Hudson off the New Orleans Saints practice squad on Tuesday.

Ifedi, who only has one more elevation before the Browns either have to sign him to the active roster or waive him, started the final two preseason games for the Browns at left tackle in place of Hudson, who started there in the opener — both preseason and regular season — because of Wills' absence. The former first-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks has primarily played right tackle in his career.

Whiteheart was one of three tight ends the Browns had on their practice squad, along with Cameron Latu and the recently-signed Geoff Swaim. Whiteheart spent last season with the Arizona Cardinals on their practice squad with one regular-season appearance, when he played for former Browns assistant coach and current Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

Dalvin Tomlinson draws fine for sack of Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson was fined $22,511 for landed with his full body weight on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on his opening sack of last Sunday's opener. After the Cowboys drew a holding call on the very first play, Tomlinson blew past the center and guard to wrap up Prescott.

However, Tomlinson landed on top of Prescott when he took him to the ground, which the NFL has tried to legislate out of the game. The veteran defensive tackle was not flagged on the play.

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs drew a $16,883 fine for unnecessary roughness in the game as well. Diggs was flagged for it as well with just under seven minutes remaining in the game, as he went low for a tackle on running back Jerome Ford after he caught a pass out of the backfield.

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

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns sign WR James Proche II, LB Winston Reid to active roster, waive WR Jaelon Darden