The Cleveland Browns made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday after falling to 2-7, which included cutting ties with a cornerback.
The Browns waived cornerback Tre Avery, who was mostly a special teams contributor. Cleveland did not announce a corresponding move, giving them an open roster spot.
The team also signed defensive ends K.J. Henry and Ochaun Mathis to the practice squad. Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. from the practice squad.
Henry is in his third NFL season out of Clemson. Originally a fifth-round pick by Washington in 2023, Henry has appeared in 14 career games with three starts with the Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys. He has recorded 22 career tackles and 2.5 sacks. Henry spent time on the practice squad with the Browns earlier this season.
Mathis is in his third NFL season out of Nebraska. Originally a sixth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, Mathis has appeared in 14 career games with the Rams, Patriots and Eagles.
It’s some fringe moves by the Browns following their rough 27-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. Cleveland dropped to 2-7 with the loss and is seeking answers across all three phases of the game.
Browns Coming Off Dismal Loss to Jets
The Browns surrendered a pair of return touchdowns against the Jets, and while the offense showed flashes of progress, the inconsistency under Dillon Gabriel remained a familiar frustration.
Cleveland’s typically reliable defense also faltered down the stretch, giving up a handful of big plays in the second half. The most damaging sequence came on New York’s final possession. The Browns had a chance to get the ball back for one last drive, but two untimely penalties sealed their fate, allowing the Jets to drain the clock and secure just their second win of the season.
• READ MORE: NFL’s Announcement on Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Has Everyone Talking
The most glaring mistake came from defensive end Cameron Thomas, who jumped offside on a fourth down when it was obvious the Jets had no intention of snapping the ball.
Browns star Myles Garrett backed Thomas after the loss.
“It’s frustrating,” Garrett said. “There are plenty of frustrating things to go around. I don’t want my guy Cam to lose confidence and think that he lost the game for us. That’s not the case. There were so many plays in the game and you can’t let one hang on you and take away your confidence in who you are as a player. This is a learning moment for him.”
Browns Not Making Move at QB
One of the more notable shakeups Browns fans are waiting on is at the quarterback position. Third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel has gone 1-4 as the starter in Cleveland and not looked like a long-term solution for the Browns.
However, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the team will continue to roll with Gabriel this week against the Baltimore Ravens. When asked if there’s a potential timeline for backup Shedeur Sanders to see the field, Stefanski shut down the speculation.
“I don’t think it’s fair to speculate,” Stefanski said Monday. “We’re committed to getting better as an offense. Dillon is certainly committed to improving every which way he can. And all the while, all of our players, our young players are developing and working so hard behind the scenes to make sure that they’re getting better on a daily basis.”
The Browns are also evaluating the status of Deshaun Watson. The team’s $230 million quarterback isn’t expected to return to practice this week as he continues to recover from his Achilles injury, though he’s anticipated to return to the field in the near future.
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