Camp thoughts XVI

 

Sure didn’t see that coming.

 

Five tight ends on the Browns’ initial 53-man active/inactive roster after Saturday’s big purge? There is only one plausible reason that happened.

 

General Manager Andrew Berry, his henchmen and head coach Kevin Stefanski thought so much of the five candidates, they couldn’t agree on who should be cut and decided to keep them all.

 

Stefanski sure loves tight ends, but this is ridiculous. Can’t wait to see the National Football League’s first-ever five-tight-end formation.

 

Overall, there were few surprises as this season’s’ strange training camp officially came to a close. From now on, it’s full steam ahead for the 2020 regular season with the Baltimore Ravens on deck for the season opener a week from Sunday.

 

For the time being, there are 26 members for the offense, 24 for the defense and three specialists. That almost assuredly will change as early as Sunday as Berry manipulates his roster and makes changes after scouring the league’s waiver lists.

 

There are 20 newcomers this season, a whopping 38% turnover from last season’s disappointing club. Included are six of the seven young men selected in the last college draft. It would have been all seven if safety Grant Delpit had not suffered a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. They are the only rookies to make the final trim.

 

All of them performed well enough in camp to warrant more than token exposure this season. Jedrick Wills Jr. will start at offensive left tackle and Nick Harris will open at center if JC Tretter is unable to work the opener after knee surgery.

 

Linebacker Jacob Phillips and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott could see significant reps on defense, while tight end Harrison Bryant and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones have earned playing time.

 

Eleven players who finished last season with the Browns will not return, including wide receiver Damion Ratley, running back Dontrell Hilliard and defensive end Chad Thomas. The latter, a third-round pick in 2018, has been a huge disappointment. Only Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Denzel Ward remain from that class..

 

One of Berry’s first roster moves probably will be placing linebacker Mack Wilson (hyperextended knee) and cornerback Kevin Johnson  (lacerated liver) on the injured list with a scheduled return when healthy. And cornerback Greedy Williams’ nagging shoulder problems are cause for concern.

 

While there were no big surprises among the additions, there was one with regard to the cuts. Free-agent cornerbacks A. J. Green, a rookie, and first-year man Donovan Olumba were camp standouts. Veteran observers speculated one would be kept. If they pass through waivers, both could wind up on the practice squad.

 

I was personally surprised the Browns kept wide receiver/kick returner JoJo Natson. The little scooter is a good returner, but the Browns have returners in People-Jones and D’Ernest Johnson. And Natson does not figure in offensive plans. Obviously, Stefanski and special teams boss Mike Priefer don’t agree.

 

Among those who made the cut, three are relative newcomers. Safety Ronnie Harrison just arrived after being obtained in a trade with Jacksonville, while cornerback M. J. Stewart and linebacker Malcolm Smith were free-agent signings after camp started. All are expected to have a role in the defense.

 

Because the roster most likely will look quite different by the time the Browns and Ravens kick off in eight days, it’s difficult to truly assess what the future holds. Right now, though, the Browns have been built to score. That might not happen right away, but it will eventually come.

 

It’s an entirely different matter on the other side of the football. That situation was iffy coming into camp and slightly less iffy now with the addition of Harrison, Stewart and Smith. Improving the iffy to something more satisfying should be the goal for the GM.

 

The offense does not need any more help. Unless, that is, a sixth tight end becomes available and Stefanski can’t resist.

The roster will be revisited here at least once before the opener.