The Cleveland Browns are looking for help at wide receiver and brought in three pass-catchers to work out on Friday, including the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice.
Brenden Rice was among the group looking for a spot with the Browns. The other receivers looking to make an impression were Dymere Miller and Eli Pancol. Cleveland also took a look at tight ends Drake Dabney and Caden Prieskorn, as well as quarterback Seth Henigan.
Rice began his college career at Colorado, where he flashed his potential as a playmaker. Over two seasons with the Buffaloes, he caught 27 passes for 419 yards and five touchdowns before transferring to USC ahead of the 2022 season.
At USC, Rice continued to develop into a reliable deep threat, posting 39 receptions for 611 yards and four scores as a junior. He capped his college career with a standout senior season, recording 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. In total, Rice finished his collegiate run with more than 1,800 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.
Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders shared one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries during their Hall of Fame careers. Now, decades later, the idea of their sons joining forces in Cleveland offered a storyline straight out of football lore.
But that reunion will have to wait. Rice was not signed following his workout with the Browns and remains in search of his next NFL opportunity.
Browns Looking for Spark on Offense
The Browns’ offense is still looking for a spark. Cleveland is coming off a 31-6 victory against the Miami Dolphins, but the majority of the heavy lifting in that game came from the defense, which forced four turnovers. The Browns still had just 206 yards of total offense. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel earned his first win as the starter in Cleveland but had just 116 yards passing. He didn’t break the 100-yard mark until the fourth quarter, although in his defense, the game was played in sloppy conditions.
The Browns are looking to get Gabriel and the passing game on track against the Patriots this week.
“Hopefully, a dry day would help start that off, but we just have to trust it. We got to put him in the right spots to see the coverage, trust what he’s seeing, let it go,” Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. “We got to put him in the right positions during the week to make sure he has confidence in those plays. Throughout camp, throughout the preseason, he was not trigger-shy on that stuff — I still don’t think he is. We just got to give him the right looks and make sure that we’re preparing him to trust those things, and see them and let them go.”
Browns Thin at Wide Receiver Behind Jerry Jeudy
The Browns are not deep at wide receiver. Jerry Jeudy is the team’s top option, with rookie Isaiah Bond and Jamari Thrash also seeing significant playing time. Cedric Tillman, who was slated to be the No. 2 option, is on injured reserve.
Jeudy is coming off a Pro Bowl season but has not been able to replicate that level of production. He has just 22 catches for 257 yards and has yet to find the end zone. He also has eight drops. Despite the slow start and shaky quarterback situation, Jeudy has confidence in Gabriel and his growth.
“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 road underdog against the Patriots.
