Cleveland

Browns

Ward hit his head in Monday’s practice and head coach Kevin Stefanski announced at a Wednesday press conference that he was in concussion protocol. If diagnosed with a concussion, it will be Ward’s fifth since 2018. He is projected to be a starter opposite Greg Newsome this season. However, with Newsome also dealing with a hamstring, the Browns are using Kahlef Hailassie and Martin Emerson Jr. as their top corners.

A Pro Bowler in 2023, Owusu-Koramoah cashes in with a deal that guarantees him $25 million with $14 million in incentives over the next three seasons. JOK last season proved to be a critical part of the Browns stellar defense and will continue as a key to the team’s top-notch pass rush. Owusu-Koramoah had 3.5 sacks and a whopping 20 tackles for loss last year.

Watson was cleared for contact last week and will get his first taste of live football action post-shoulder surgery in the team’s preseason finale against the Seahawks on August 24. This will happen a little less than two weeks after Watson’s return to the field, but it’s an encouraging step in his rehab process. While Watson isn’t expected to play in this week’s preseason game against the Vikings, he is expected to see the majority of first-team reps in the team’s join practices, which should make for another nice test in his recovery.

Assuming Bell is back within two weeks, he should be ready in time for the Browns’ regular season contest against the Cowboys. The third-year receiver caught one pass for five yards in the team’s preseason opener against the Packers and is hoping to carve out a role as a backup in camp. Bell has caught 38 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns in his career since being drafted in the third-round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Harris spent the first four years of his career with the Browns after the team drafted him in the 2020 NFL draft’s fifth round. He was allowed to walk in free agency and signed a one-year, $2.51 million deal with the Seahawks. The Browns’ front office evidently wanted him back and the Seahawks now have ample depth at the position, making him a redundant asset.

The report comes from ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, who surmises this is “Seemingly the final step in Watson’s rehab.” The end of Watson’s lengthy rehabilitation program is evidently now in sight. The upcoming joint practices will likely provide clarity as to Watson’s 2024 fantasy prospects.

According to Reiss, the 49ers “are now willing to listen to trade offers” for the star wide receiver and have granted him permission to seek out a new contract with potential suitors. Aiyuk and the 49ers remain at an impasse as he’s long sought out a new contract since breaking out for 75-1,342-7 last season. It was reported earlier by NBC’s Matt Maiocco that the Browns and Patriots could be in play for Aiyuk, with Reiss echoing that sentiment while also adding that “barring a change, [the Steelers] do not appear to be a potential trade destination any longer.” There was no mention of the Commanders in Reiss’ article. It sounds like a trade could be in the works once Aiyuk has a contractual agreement in place. We’d expect to hear more on this soon.

Per Maiocco, “now it’s up to Aiyuk to decide if he will accept either team’s contract terms.” It’s odd timing for a deal of this nature, but things are looking irreparable between the 49ers and their co-No. 1 receiver. The 2020 first-rounder just wants to get paid heading into the final season of his rookie deal, and the star-laden Niners aren’t in a great position to do so. This should get resolved within the next 24 hours. Both the Pats and Browns would be a steep fantasy downgrade, but the Pats far, far — far — more so.

No word yet as to the severity of the injury, nor what the actual injury is. The 31-year-old was re-signed to a two-year, $23.5 million deal in March and is expected to pair with Myles Garrett to pair one of the better pass-rushing duos in the NFC North.

The offseason program, of course, was a long time ago at this point, but Tillman has continued to generate buzz in the early days of Browns camp. Realistically, Tillman is going to have a difficult time making a statistical leap with Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku all ahead of him for targets, but Cooper and Jeudy are not long-term solutions. It appears it might behoove Dynasty players to give Tillman one more year on the bench.