BEREA, Ohio — As expected, the Browns' "final" 53-man roster wasn't exactly final after all.
Although the team trimmed their active roster prior to Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline, many players were still on the bubble, as the front office was waiting to see what other players they could add whom were cut elsewhere. Sunday, we found out who some of the newest Browns would be, and who wouldn't be with the club during Week 1.
The team announced it had claimed linebacker Malik Jefferson off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals, tight end Ricky Seals-Jones from the Arizona Cardinals, and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge from the Los Angeles Rams. To make room, defensive tackle Trevon Coley and safety Justin Burris were both cut, while offensive tackle Drew Forbes was placed on injured reserve after hurting his knee in the final preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
Seals-Jones is the most-accomplished of the new group, catching 46 passes for 544 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons with Arizona after going undrafted out of Texas A&M. He is also a cousin of legendary Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.
Jefferson was drafted in the third round out of Texas last year and totaled 10 tacked in 12 games, including ranking third on Cincy in special teams stops. Hodge was also a rookie in 2018 out of Prairie View A&M, playing primarily on special teams while also catching two passes in helping the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII.
With the additions of Jefferson, Seals-Jones, and Hodge, the Browns' 53-man roster now shapes up like this (although more changes could still be on the way before the season opener):
QUARTERBACKS
- Baker Mayfield
- Drew Stanton
- Garrett Gilbert
RUNNING BACKS
- Nick Chubb
- Dontrelle Hilliard
- D'Ernest Johnson
WIDE RECEIVERS
- Odell Beckham Jr.
- Jarvis Landry
- Rashard Higgins
- Taywan Taylor
- Damion Ratley
- KhaDarel Hodge
TIGHT ENDS
- David Njoku
- Demetrius Harris
- Pharaoh Brown
- Ricky Seals-Jones
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
- Joel Bitonio
- JC Tretter
- Greg Robinson
- Chris Hubbard
- Eric Kush
- Austin Corbett
- Wyatt Teller
- Justin McCray
- Kendall Lamm
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
- Myles Garrett
- Olivier Vernon
- Sheldon Richardson
- Larry Ogunjobi
- Devaroe Lawrence
- Chris Smith
- Chad Thomas
- Daniel Ekuale
LINEBACKERS
- Christian Kirksey
- Joe Schobert
- Genard Avery
- Sione Takitaki
- Mack Wilson
- Adarius Taylor
- Malik Jefferson
DEFENSIVE BACKS
- Denzel Ward
- T.J. Carrie
- Damarious Randall
- Morgan Burnett
- Terrance Mitchell
- Jermaine Whitehead
- Greedy Williams
- Eric Murray
- Sheldrick Redwine
- Tavierre Thomas
SPECIALISTS
- Austin Seibert
- Jamie Gillan
- Charley Hughlett
In addition, Forbes, cornerback Phillip Gaines, center Lo Falemaka, and receiver D.J. Montgomery are all on injured reserve and cannot return until Week 9 at the earliest (if at all). Running back Kareem Hunt, receiver Antonio Callaway, and tight end Rico Gathers are also suspended for different lengths of time and therefore do not count against the 53.
The latest moves come amid multiple reports that the Browns have released expected-starting left tackle Greg Robinson as a "procedural" move with the intent to re-sign him. However, the team has not made this official, and he is still listed as being on the active roster.
The Browns also announced the following additions to their practice squad:
- DT Brandin Bryant
- TE Stephen Carlson
- WR Shelton Gibson
- LB Willie Harvey
- S J.T. Hassell
- CB Robert Jackson
- WR Derrick Willies
- C Willie Wright
Safety Tigie Sankoh (from London) has also been added via an international exemption, although he cannot be elevated to the active roster. Of the squad members, all but Gibson were with the Browns during training camp.
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