Team news: Cleveland Browns | Page 9

Browns D’Onta Foreman injured during kickoff drill. Being immobilized and taken off on board.

Related Players: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Nyheim Hines

There are no further updates at this time, but we'll keep an eye on it. Foreman is looking to carve out an early-season role with Jerome Ford as Nick Chubb continues to recover from his knee injury.

While Nick Chubb is on Cleveland’s physically unable to perform list, the running back has been making steady progress in his return to the field.

Reporters on the Browns beat have taken note of Chubb’s work on the side, with the back putting in some sprints after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 last year.

Related players: Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman, Nyheim Hines

The Browns say they are pleased with the work Chubb has put in, as well as the progress he's made. The story added Chubb still has a little ways to go. Perhaps also key was the team hasn't put a timetable on Chubb's return, saying it's a day-to-day progress. So for now, owners are left to wonder what they'll see from Chubb this season. We rank Chubb 37ths on our RB list. But if Chubb can get back to practices during camp, it could mean a huge boost in value for those who already drafted him as the 37th RB off the board. The Browns brought in Foreman to pair with Ford as insurance in case Chubb can't return to form. And even if he's ready for Week 1, he'll likely be eased back in.

Malachi Corley still has a “long way to go” with his route running, Robert Saleh said. The next two weeks will be good for him because he’ll see extra reps with Xavier Gipson hurt (leg injury).

Extra reps are certainly not a bad sign, but it's still up in the air how much fantasy usage the rookie will have in 2024. If Gipson were to miss extended time —with Mike Williams' availability still up in the air— Corley could scoot up fantasy rankings a little bit.

The Jets announced Thursday that Mike Williams will begin training camp on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list alongside fullback Nick Bawden and defensive tackle Leonard Taylor.

Related Players: Garrett Wilson, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Allen Lazard

Locker goes on to state, "In mid-June, head coach Robert Saleh said Williams, 29, likely will follow a similar recovery that running back Breece Hall took last year after his torn ACL, meaning limited snaps until the regular season begins."

With the WR's ADP falling into the 11th round and later, he's worth a stab to gamble on a return to form from Aaron Rodgers.

Nick Chubb will likely be placed on the active/physically unable to perform list next week heading into camp, meaning he can be activated and start participating in team drills if he’s ready and remains eligible for the opener at Cleveland Browns Stadium. PUP players can work out and rehab with the team, but not take part in team drills.

Related Players: Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman

Signs are pointing toward a slow build-up for Chubb, which means he's not likely to see a full workload (or any at all) to begin the season. Ford is a fantastic pick in redraft leagues in the 11th round, though his place in the pecking order might be in serious jeopardy by the second half of the season.

Did Thursday’s final mandatory minicamp practice provide a subtle — or maybe even not-so-subtle — sign that Deshaun Watson is feeling better? At the risk of making too much out of the last of the team’s 13 instruction-based spring practice sessions, we’ll stick with maybe.

“I’ve said it before (that) I’ve gotten to see him throw throughout the course of this rehab,” HC Kevin Stefanski said. “I don’t know (exactly) when it was, but a while back, he looked very normal to me. So that looked normal to me.”

Related Players: Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Assuming there are no future hiccups with Watson's rehabbing, he should be fully cleared well ahead of Week 1. He is currently ranked as 4for4's QB22 as he attempts to string together his first full season since 2020.

"He's got a long way to go," Saleh said about Mike Williams' recovery from injury. "He's on the same timeline that Breece Hall had. They're very similar injuries, same timeframe. Speaking with Mike, he knows he's got a road to trek, but at the same time, if he does it the right way, we're very confident that we'll have them ready for Week 1."

Related Players: Garrett Wilson, Malachi Corley, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson

If the team truly does view the injuries in the same light, we could see a sort of pitch count for Williams to begin the season. Hall had season-lows in snap counts in Week 1 (17) and Week 2 (16) before getting back to his full workload. Regardless, the former Chargers receiver fits very well in this offense and should pop up with WR2 weeks throughout the year.

The Browns receiver was not in attendance for Cleveland's Tuesday session and is subject to fines.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Cooper's absence was not excused.

"These situations, I understand that they do come up," Stefanski said. "I'll really leave all of that between Amari, Amari's agent and AB (general manager Andrew Berry) and those type of conversations. Again, as you guys know, we focus on guys that are here. We'll get some good work in and really keep it at that."

Related Players: Elijah Moore, Jerry Jeudy, Jamari Thrash

At 30 years old, there aren't many reasons for Cooper to miss time this season, so we assume this will be hashed out sooner rather than later. The Browns offense as a whole has plenty to prove this year, not least of all is their receiving room.

The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Ken Dorsey, a new running backs coach in Duce Staley and two new veteran running backs in the group, Nyheim Hines and D’Onta Foreman. Jerome Ford, who became the lead back in Chubb’s absence last year, has been first in line through the first three weeks of spring practice and presumably will keep that spot until Chubb returns.

The article goes on to mention, "Hines is also trying to come back from a torn ACL, and Chubb said he and Hines have spent plenty of time together with the team’s medical staff." We can surmise that the current 1-2 punch as it stands is Ford-Foreman, which should put the latter on our radar as a final-round dart throw.

The Cleveland Browns running back, who is attempting yet another comeback from a vicious knee injury, doesn't know exactly when he'll return to the field. He still has a long way to go in his rehabilitation. But Chubb said he's nonetheless happy with the progress he has made so far following his season-ending Week 2 injury last year.

Related Players: Jerome Ford, Nyheim Hines, D'Onta Foreman

There remains some doubt that he will be ready for Week 1. This makes considering the rest of the backfield a tricky situation in current best ball drafts. Cleveland currently has seven backs on its roster, including the offseason additions of Hines and Foreman. Ford should be considered the most likely option to lead the backfield in touches in Chubb's steed.

We will keep an eye on news for further updates on Chubb's status.