Cleveland Browns reveal update on Cedric Tillman's return
After a devastating 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots, the Cleveland Browns look to their bye week to right their wrongs. Some of those wrongs accumulated in the Patriots' game came from a long list of injuries sustained on Sunday, including standout rookies Carson Schwesinger, who went down with a high ankle sprain, and running back Quinshon Judkins, who suffered a shoulder injury and is day-to-day.
As Cleveland heads into its Week 9 bye, the focus will be on getting some of these key guys healthy before they take on the New York Jets.
One player set to return after the bye week is starting wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Tillman has been sidelined since Week 4 with a hamstring injury. After the loss against the Lions, it was announced that He would miss at least 4 weeks when he was placed on IR.
So far this year, Tillman has been targeted 20 times, in which he has hauled in 11 receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Tillman’s most productive week came in Week 1, where he caught five passes for 52 yards, and a touchdown.
Tillman was taken in the 2023 draft out of Tennessee in the third round at pick number 74. Tillman’s best stretch of his career came last year, when from Week 7 to 9, he caught 21 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Tillman would play just two more weeks before suffering a concussion.
That concussion kept Tillman out for the rest of the 2024 season, missing the final six games. As Tillman has shown his flashes of being a solid starter, so has the ugly injury bug.
Cleveland’s pass catchers have been a concern this season, as wide receiver one Jerry Jeudy has come across much criticism for his drops, and the Browns overall have had lots of drops this year as a group. Jeudy is getting most of the dismay as he has caught just 22 of the team-high 54 targets that he has received this season.
Getting Tillman back should be a boost for this group, though, and with the possible quarterback change, you never know how the offense will respond. The hope with Tillman moving forward is that he can shake off the injuries and perform as we know he can.
The bye week will help Tillman completely heal that hamstring and be able to be back 100% and ready against the Jets.
Mariners Linked To Yankees' $168 Million Free Agent Star: Insider
The Seattle Mariners were one of the best teams in all of baseball this season, but they fell short of the ultimate goal of the World Series.
Seattle made moves for players like Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez in its push for the World Series. But now these two stars are headed to free agency and the Mariners are going to struggle to replace them. If the Mariners want to stay at the top of the league, they're going to need to spend a good chunk of money in free agency, either to re-sign these two or in order to replace them.
The Athletic's Jim Bowden recently linked the Mariners to a huge deal with New York Yankees free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger this offseason. Bowden also projected the star outfielder to sign a massive six-year, $168 million deal, which might not be good news for the Mariners.
Cody Bellinger could bolt for a deal with the Mariners
"Bellinger’s ability to play above-average defense at all three outfield positions and first base increases his free-agent worth, although it looks like he’s found a home in left field," Bowden wrote. "He has been a perfect fit for the Yankees, where playing half his games at Yankee Stadium with the short porch in right helped him hit 29 home runs while slashing .272/.334/.480 (he had a .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium and a .715 OPS at every other park). I think he’ll opt out of his contract and try to get the Yankees to give him a longer deal."
The Mariners would be the perfect fit for Bellinger if they can afford the massive contract projection. Bellinger could slot into the outfield in Victor Robles' spot, or he could replace Naylor at first base. Either way, he's a good defender.
He's also an incredible hitter, as most have come to know with Bellinger's track record. He's coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2025.
The Yankees and a few other big market teams will likely be in hot pursuit of Bellinger, but the Mariners have a chance to emerge from the group with the star on their roster.
