Baron

Browning

Browning was activated from injured reserve last month after dealing with a knee injury he suffered in Week 2. The fourth-year linebacker has totaled 9.5 sacks in 43 career games and tallied 4.5 sacks last season. The Cardinals hope Browning can add to a pass rush that currently ranks 13th in the league in sacks with 21.

Browning played in the Broncos’ first two games of the season before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. His return will give the Broncos an added pass-rusher, as Browning has totaled 9.5 sacks and 12 TFLs over the last two seasons.

The Broncos’ hope is to get Browning back at some point during the preseason. That would be a best case scenario after Browning underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus this month. A more likely timetable would put Browning in a race to get cleared for Week 1. Denver can move Browning slowly after they signed ex-Chiefs DE Frank Clark.

The sudden uncertainty around Browning does help explain the Frank Clark signing a bit more. Browning, who had five sacks last year in a more EDGE-centric role, will be a training camp injury to monitor.

Browning has yet to practice since suffering a sprained hip in Week 7. Denver’s EDGE corps will be in rough shape without him and Bradley Chubb as they come back from their Week 9 bye against the Titans.

Browning is set for an MRI tomorrow. Browning came into the game with a 73.9 PFF rating and especially flashed as a pass rusher against the Colts in Week 5. He did not appear in the Week 7 box score for the Broncos. It would be a significant loss for the Broncos if Browning were to miss major time.

It was announced on the broadcast that Browning was questionable to return, but the Broncos EDGE reportedly went to the locker room to undergo X-rays on his wrist. Browning’s exit came in the middle of the fourth quarter. Even if Browning did dodge a major injury, his return in this one seems unlikely given the time left in the game.

He walked off under his own power with trainers after rushing Jimmy Garoppolo with about 37 seconds left. He was pedaling on a bicycle on the sideline as the second half began. Browning has yet to record a sack this season and didn’t officially enter the box score before leaving.

The final pick of Day 2, Browning (6’3/235) earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last fall after functioning as a high-usage platoon player off the bench earlier in his career. Befitting his five-star pedigree, Browning boasts a built-in-a-lab body and world-class athleticism. Browning ran a 4.56 forty at his pro day workout, testing as the fifth most athletic linebacker to enter the NFL since 1987, per RAS system. Browning’s lack of instincts can nullify his athletic gifts on plays he has to reason through, however. He shines brightest on one-task assignments like blitzes and gap attacks. Regrettably, Browning’s freak athleticism in a big package is wasted in coverage. He surrendered a 123.9 NFL QB rating over 539 career coverage snaps. Not only did Browning intercept zero passes in college, his oh-so-meager three career passes defended equalled the number of passing scores he surrendered. The physical package is top-15 pick worthy, but Browning may always be a year away from being a year away. He has a similar profile to Oren Burks coming out of Vandy.

Browning’s entire pro day was knocked out of the park. He measured in at 6-foot-3 and 245-pounds, which is slightly heavier than his listed playing weight, and proceeded to crush every drill. The 4.58 40-yard dash was impressive enough, but Browning also jumped 40 inches in the vertical jump and 130 inches in the broad jump, as well as ran a 6.78-second three-cone drill. All of those numbers are outstanding for a linebacker. Do not be surprised if this kind of performance moves Browning up some boards.