Browns Cut Ties With Defender Ahead of Ravens Game

The Cleveland Browns made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday after falling to 2-7, which included cutting ties with a cornerback.

The Browns waived cornerback Tre Avery, who was mostly a special teams contributor. Cleveland did not announce a corresponding move, giving them an open roster spot.

The team also signed defensive ends K.J. Henry and Ochaun Mathis to the practice squad. Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. from the practice squad. The additions could mean that defensive end Alex Wright could miss time with a quad injury he suffered in Week 10.

Henry is in his third NFL season out of Clemson. Originally a fifth-round pick by Washington in 2023, Henry has appeared in 14 career games with three starts with the Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys. He has recorded 22 career tackles and 2.5 sacks. Henry spent time on the practice squad with the Browns earlier this season.

It’s some fringe moves by the Browns following their rough 27-20 loss to the Jets on Sunday. Cleveland dropped to 2-7 with the loss and is seeking answers across all three phases of the game.

Browns Coming Off Dismal Loss to Jets

The Browns surrendered a pair of return touchdowns against the Jets, and while the offense showed flashes of progress, the inconsistency under Dillon Gabriel remained a familiar frustration.

Cleveland’s typically reliable defense also faltered down the stretch, giving up a handful of big plays in the second half. The most damaging sequence came on New York’s final possession. The Browns had a chance to get the ball back for one last drive, but two untimely penalties sealed their fate, allowing the Jets to drain the clock and secure just their second win of the season.

• READ MORE: NFL’s Announcement on Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Has Everyone Talking

The most glaring mistake came from defensive end Cameron Thomas, who jumped offside on a fourth down when it was obvious the Jets had no intention of snapping the ball.

Browns star Myles Garrett backed Thomas after the loss.

“It’s frustrating,” Garrett said. “There are plenty of frustrating things to go around. I don’t want my guy Cam to lose confidence and think that he lost the game for us. That’s not the case. There were so many plays in the game and you can’t let one hang on you and take away your confidence in who you are as a player. This is a learning moment for him.”

Browns Not Making Move at QB

One of the more notable shakeups Browns fans are waiting on is at the quarterback position. Third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel has gone 1-4 as the starter in Cleveland and not looked like a long-term solution for the Browns.

However, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the team will continue to roll with Gabriel this week against the Baltimore Ravens. When asked if there’s a potential timeline for backup Shedeur Sanders to see the field, Stefanski shut down the speculation.

“I don’t think it’s fair to speculate,” Stefanski said Monday. “We’re committed to getting better as an offense. Dillon is certainly committed to improving every which way he can. And all the while, all of our players, our young players are developing and working so hard behind the scenes to make sure that they’re getting better on a daily basis.”

The Browns are also evaluating the status of Deshaun Watson. The team’s $230 million quarterback isn’t expected to return to practice this week as he continues to recover from his Achilles injury, though he’s anticipated to return to the field in the near future.

Packers Playmaker Facing Yet Another Injury Setback

It might be best to simply keep Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd off the field on the rare occasions when the Colts are lined up opposite Green Bay.

It was Week 2 of last season vs. Indianapolis, of course, that Lloyd’s entire rookie season went from hobbled to completely sideways.

Lloyd was projected to have a significant role in the team’s running game last season as a rookie third-round pick, as the top backup to new starter Josh Jacobs. But Lloyd opened training camp on the injury list with a hip problem he suffered after minicamp last year, and missed Week 1.

Then, with the Colts on the docket in Week 2, Lloyd ran for 15 yards on six carries, with one catch and three yards receiving. He hurt his ankle in the game, though, and went on the injured reserve. As he was prepping to come off it, Lloyd suffered appendicitis and needed surgery, ending his season.

MarShawn Lloyd Injured Again

On Saturday against the Colts in the team’s second preseason game, a 23-19 Packers win, Lloyd went for just 15 yards on six carries, but had a 33-yard play on a catch out of the backfield.

It was the highlight of camp for Lloyd, but as he made the catch, he stumbled and apparently re-injured the hamstring that has bothered him this summer. The Packers reported it as tightness, and when asked about Lloyd after the game, coach Matt LaFleur said, “We’ll see.”

Lloyd only returned to practice at the start of last week, after missing several practices with the hamstring injury.

Packers Have RB Depth, Fortunately

With the fact that the Packers might have an injury-prone back on their hands weighing down the running game, the Packers did get another good showing from Emmanuel Wilson, the reserves who ran for more than 500 yards while backing up Jacobs in Lloyd’s absence last season.

Wilson went for 33 yards on five carries, and added a 32-yard catch out of the backfield.

While Lloyd’s reliability might be in question, Wilson’s is not.

“We are doing some good things,” Wilson said, via PackersNews.com. “We’ve got a lot of good guys in that running backs room. Don’t forget (undrafted free agent) Amar Johnson. He’s shown a lot, too. We have a really good group. There are some tough decisions that will have to be made.”

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