Third-year wide receiver Ricardo Louis has been ruled out for the 2018 season.
Louis, who led all wide receivers in receptions (27) and receiving yards (357) in 2017, recently underwent a surgical procedure on his injured neck. It's unclear when Louis, who did not perform in team drills during OTAs and minicamp, suffered the initial injury but his status was solidified after the surgery.
"Probably happened during the season, yes. Probably late. Way late," Browns coach Hue Jackson said. "Then, there were some things that started to show up in the offseason and we kept working through it, trying to get him back, and it just did not work that way. We moved further and then things did not work right. And this is where we are today."
The loss of Louis and indefinite absence of Josh Gordon leaves the Browns with a spot or two to fill in their wide receivers room, and general manager John Dorsey vowed to explore all avenues to provide the unit with the proper depth. The Browns have two roster spots open, as it currently sits at 88.
"Our personnel department will do its due diligence and take in everything – turn over every stone possible," Dorsey said. "We will look at all options. We will talk and have free discussion about the possibilities here. We have two roster spots that we can fill. The question is, do I want to use it at the receiver position with the legs? Or the stress points of training camp, as well all know, are the receivers and corners. Do we add an additional corner? These are things that we will add in our discussions."
The Browns will be without three other players when training camp opens Thursday, as safety Jabrill Peppers (groin), defensive lineman Chad Thomas (groin) and offensive lineman Desmond Harrison (ankle) will begin on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
