As the Browns prepare to finalize the 53-man roster, with a 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline, head coach Kevin Stefanski gave some positive updates regarding the status of key players on both sides of the ball as well as his thoughts on the difficult process that is constructing an NFL roster.
Here are the top pieces of news and other notes from Stefanski.
Status updates on injured players
Stefanski announced that T Jack Conklin, S D'Anthony Bell, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, CB Greg Newsome II, TE David Njoku, RB Pierre Strong Jr., LB Jordan Hicks and LB Tony Fields II will return to practice this week after working through various injuries.
Conklin is coming off the active/physically unable to play list after tearing his ACL in Week 1 of the 2023 season. Tomlinson and Bell were previously also listed on the PUP and Newsome on the active/non-football injury list.
"Injuries are part of this game, and guys have to rehab and have to work really hard to get back, and that's what I've seen all these guys do," Stefanski said.
Stefanski also announced that T Jedrick Wills Jr. would be coming off the PUP but would not return to practice on Aug. 27.
Stefanski added that T James Hudson III, who sustained an injury against the Vikings on Aug. 17, would also be "working this week."
RB D'Onta Foreman (ribs), RB Nyheim Hines (knee) and CB Denzel Ward (concussion protocol) will not return to practice on Aug. 27.
Stefanski addressed questions about RB Nick Chubb's progress, who he did not name as one of the players returning to practice this week. Stefanski said he did not have an update on his status.
53-man roster deadline approaching
The Browns are preparing to finalize their 53-man roster, which must be done by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Stefanski emphasized the difficulty of parting with players who have impressed over the course of the offseason and training camp.
"This is no fun for me as a coach, when you've got to let guys go," Stefanski said. "I've told the team I'm excited for all these guys. If it's not an opportunity here, I'll be rooting for them wherever it is."
After players clear waivers, the Browns will construct their practice squad roster.
Following the 2020 season, practice squads increased from 10 players to 16. Additionally, teams can elevate two players from their practice squad per game to their game day rosters without having to cut a member of their 53-man roster. After the game, a player will revert to the practice squad – but this method can be used a maximum of three times a year on an individual player.
"It changes how you think about it because those elevations are really, really important and you have to make sure that you spread them out throughout the year as well," Stefanski said. "But the size of that practice squad is so different than what it was in the past. So, I know different teams, us included, are really utilizing that in a bunch of different areas where maybe you wouldn't be able to carry as many guys as you could in the past, and then you get to bring them up to game day."
However, even as difficult decisions are made, Stefanski said the Browns are focused on using this week of practice to prepare for their Week 1 home opener against the Cowboys on Sept. 8.
"Everything that we do to get the team ready for this season is important and I think those guys understand that," Stefanski said. "That's why we've talked a lot in this offseason, this training camp, of not wasting any of these days – even a day like today is super important to get our minds right, to get the bodies right."
The Browns will practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
