BEREA — The Browns could no longer wait for offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to potentially heal.
Wills, who has missed four of the last five games after hyperextending his right knee in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, was one of two players the Browns placed on injured reserve Saturday. They did the same with defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II, who suffered ankle and foot injuries in Monday night’s loss to the Denver Broncos.
Wills and Hurst could only return for the season finale at the Baltimore Ravens. That would mean both would finish their second straight season on injured reserve.
The corresponding moves helped the Browns address another needed position, wide receiver. They signed both wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Michael Woods II from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster, while also elevating wide receiver James Proche II from the practice squad to the game roster .
They also elevated recently signed defensive tackle TY McGill to add depth at another position where they will have another player – Sam Kamara – out Sunday in addition to Hurst.
Toney and Woods give the Browns six wide receivers on the 53-man roster. The problem is, only two of the other four – Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore – are not listed on the Browns’ injury report for Sunday’s game as out (Cedric Tillman) or questionable (Jamari Thrash).
The Browns avoided using Toney’s standard three lifts by signing him to the roster. He was brought up for the Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints, where he played six offensive snaps and lost seven yards on a rushing attempt, as well as last Monday night’s loss to the Broncos. Denver, where he played six more snaps and won. three yards on a rushing attempt while also being targeted on a pass attempt.
Where Toney could potentially find steady work is in the rematch. The former first-round pick previously returned punts for the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs.
“He can definitely account for it,” special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said Thursday of Toney. “He’s done it many times in his career, and I think in that game in particular we felt like Elijah was a better option for the game situation. But I think he gives you a threat out there with the ball. He’s a good runner with the ball, has good vision, quickness I mean, KT does a really good job of being able to make guys miss in a zone. short, then get out of there And I think. that he would definitely be an option moving forward if he was at the game.
Woods was the other day of game elevation against Denver, his first elevation of the season. He has been on the Browns’ practice squad all season after the 2022 sixth-round pick missed all of last season with an Achilles injury.
The third-year pro made the most of his opportunity against the Broncos, which included a career-high 66 offensive snaps. He had three catches for 43 yards – all of which converted third downs on scoring drives – on five targets in Denver.
“Well, Mike is a guy that we’ve always had confidence in,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday. “He has played for us in games before and performed well. He has unfortunately been unlucky with a few injuries during his career, but he is healthy and knows what to do. We are moving him around in different spots .He has a good relationship with (quarterback) Jameis (Winston), and they had a lot of reps together throughout the spring and summer. But I thought he did a good job in this. match Did his job, went through the. course, caught the ball when it came back to him.
Proche (5-11, 193) is in his fifth NFL season outside of SMU. Originally a sixth-round pick by Baltimore in 2020, he has played in 57 career games, including 14 with the Browns over the past two seasons. He recorded 26 career receptions for 281 yards.
McGill (6-0, 295) is in his 10th NFL season coming out of North Carolina State. Originally signed by Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2015, McGill has appeared in 58 career games with the Colts (2015-16), Browns (2017), Chargers (2018 and 2019), Eagles (2018 and 2020), the Vikings (2021). ) and 49ers (2022-24). He recorded 46 career tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He appeared in one game with the 49ers this season.
(This story has been updated with new information.)
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Learn more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article was originally published in the Akron Beacon Journal: Browns place Jedrick Wills Jr, Maurice Hurst II on injured reserve
