The Cleveland Browns have waived a pass-catcher ahead of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears to make room for more help on the offensive line.
The Browns announced that they have signed offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger to the active roster and waived receiver Jamari Thrash. Dellinger is primarily a guard but can play multiple positions on the offensive line. The Browns may need that versatility. Offensive tackle Jack Conklin, as well as guards Wyatt Teller and Zak Zinter, have been ruled out. Cleveland is already missing center Ethan Pocic and left tackle Dawand Jones, who are out for the year.
Dellinger is a rookie out of LSU. Baltimore selected him in the seventh round. The team also elevated safety Christopher Edmonds and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II from the practice squad.
Browns Had High Hopes for Jamari Thrash
GettyJamari Thrash had just 10 catches this season with the Browns.
Trash was selected by the Browns in the fifth round of last year’s draft and finished his rookie season with three catches for 22 yards. Despite the limited production, he impressed during the offseason and training camp and was expected to play a meaningful role in Cleveland’s thin wide receiver corps.
“He’s had a really strong spring,” Stefanski said. “He’s here all the time working on his body. Very intelligent player—he can line up in multiple positions, which I think is valuable. And he’s caught the ball well. The quarterbacks like how he gets open. He finds a way to get open against zone and man coverage.”
That didn’t translate to the regular season. Thrash has managed just 10 catches in nine games for 107 yards.
The Browns are relying on Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman and rookie Isaiah Bond to carry the passing game. Gage Larvadain and Malachi Corley have also carved out roles.
Browns TE Harold Fannin Leads Browns
The Browns’ top receiver this season has been rookie tight end Harold Fannin, whom Cleveland selected in the third round. Fannin has 59 catches for 619 yards with four touchdowns this season — all team-highs.
Fannin has also developed good chemistry with starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
“Very impressed. And we’ve been talking about him really since he got here. Just in his attitude, keeps his head down, works really hard. We ask a lot of him in this offense in terms of playing different positions, doing different jobs so that versatility is something he possesses and that doesn’t just happen,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “That comes from hard work. So, I give Harold a ton of credit.”
Fannin will likely be even busier this week against the Chicago Bears. The Browns have ruled out veteran tight end David Njoku. Running back Dylan Sampson has also been designated as out for the matchup.
“That’s part of the game and a lot of what we do as coaches is work through contingency plans and see who’s available,” Stefanski said. “And there’s always uncertainty going into football games of who may or may not play, so we just work through those things. You deal with whatever’s in front of you.”
The Browns are 7.5-point underdogs in the matchup with the Bears.
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