Browns Make Feelings Clear on Trade for Former Ohio State Star WR
Garrett Wilson’s name has surfaced amid rampant trade speculation involving the Cleveland Browns this week, but the Jets’ wide receiver isn’t on the team’s radar, even with Cleveland’s clear need at the position.
Wilson, a former Ohio State star, has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. This year, he’s recorded 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns, though the Jets remain the league’s only winless team.
Despite the outside chatter, New York isn’t shopping Wilson, who recently inked a lucrative four-year extension, and the Browns aren’t pursuing him either, per insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Cabot reported that while Cleveland hopes to be “buyers” at the trade deadline rather than sellers, Wilson isn’t part of those plans.
“It won’t be Jets receiver Garrett Wilson, because the Jets undoubtedly won’t part with him after they just signed him to a four-year extension in July worth $130 million, including $90 million guaranteed,” Cabot said. “Despite rumors on social media, the Browns haven’t given it any thought, in part because they know the Jets wouldn’t consider it, even though they’re 0-7.”
Cabot also noted that any move for a top-tier pass-catcher is more likely to come during the offseason.
Browns Veterans David Njoku, Wyatt Teller Likely Staying Put
The Browns sit at 2-5 but still have faint playoff aspirations. Cleveland has an elite defense and the AFC North is still up for grabs, though the margin for error is quickly shrinking. If the Browns can pull off an upset against New England on Sunday, the team’s postseason hopes would get a much-needed jolt of momentum heading into the bye week.
The trade deadline is on Nov. 4, and Cleveland is not planning on moving key veterans like tight end David Njoku or guard Wyatt Teller. However, Cabot noted that trading quarterback Joe Flacco earlier this season wasn’t in the Browns’ plans either.
“As for being sellers in this cycle, they’re not actively trying to trade any of their big-name players in the final years of their contract such as David Njoku or Wyatt Teller, but they also didn’t plan on trading Joe Flacco or Newsome until the Bengals and Jaguars proposed those deals,” Cabot said.
Browns Looking for More From Dillon Gabriel
The Browns want to see more from rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is averaging just 5.1 yards per attempt and playing very conservatively. But he’ll need help from his wide receivers, who have been plagued by drops. Browns pass-catchers have accounted for 16 drops this season — second in the NFL.
“There’s still a lot for me to learn, and I hope I never stop learning,” Gabriel said. “I want to continue to learn and get better, and that’s what I would say. But like I said, it’s day by day. It’s week by week. You’re going to continue to grow, and you want to keep that going in a positive direction.”
Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. However, he’s been unable to put up similar numbers this season. Jeudy has just 22 catches for 257 yards and has yet to find the end zone. But he hasn’t lost faith in Gabriel, who has gone 1-2 as the starter.
“Every game he’s just gaining confidence, understanding the speed of the game, knowing where to go with the ball and recognizing coverages,” Jeudy said. “I feel like he’s just getting better each week, and that’s what we need from him.”
The Browns are a 7.5-point underdog against the Patriots for their Week 8 clash.
Greatest Chicago Bears trading need altered by latest roster move
The Bears' injury issues took a new turn Saturday when slot cornerback Kyler Gordon had to go on injured reserve.
They also put backup tackle Braxton Jones on injured reserve.
Both situations are not really relevant to this week's game but have longer-term ramifications.
Gordon had already been ruled out for this week's game because of his groin injury, but it was a situation where he was still practicing on a limited basis earlier in the week and the severity of the injury wasn't yet known.
Now it is and losing Gordon for an extended period normally would mean Nick McCloud moves into the slot, but with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson out the Bears had been expected to let McCloud slide outside and use Josh Blackwell at slot cornerback.
It's entirely unclear whether they'd do this, though. Blackwell is an undersized player at 5-11, 179. He can get away with defending in pass situations as a slot but this could be a case where the Bears alternate slots and outside cornerbacks because starting a 179-pound slot with 252-pound Tennessee running back Derrick Henry coming at them behind 300-pound fullback Patrick Ricard is asking for trouble.
The slot can have a big role in stopping the run.
It wouldn't be shocking to see McCloud back inside at 191 pounds with someone else outside at cornerback, like Blackwell or Jaylon Jones.
Also, they could go to more of an extra safety look in the slot and use Jonathan Owens in a look like they sometimes use in short yardage.
So, the game plan of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can be greatly affected by losing Gordon in the future. This week the plan was already in motion already.
Either way, the loss of Gordon for an extended period with Johnson still out does change drastically any Bears thoughts regarding the trading deadline.
So much of this season has been a situation where edge rusher or running back looked like real needs. However, cornerback now vaults to the top of the need list. Expecting them to get through the season, let alone compete for the playoffs, with the thin group they now have is folly.
As for putting Braxton Jones on injured reserve, it means their backup tackle won't be traded as a result of the knee injury he has. Whether Jones would have fetched much in the trade market is uncertain after his early trouble getting over ankle surgery from a 2024 injury, and also because he lost his starting job to undrafted Theo Benedet.
The Bears also announced they have elevated defensive tackle Jonathan Ford from the practice squad through standard elevation. His presence will no doubt be needed as a 345-pound defender in the middle of the line to back up Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, Andrew Billings, Chris Williams and Shemar Turner.
They have decided to keep both defensive end Austin Booker and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga on injured reserve for Sunday. They'll need to activate Booker early next week if they plan to let him play this year because his 21-day window to return would expire Oct. 28.
