Greedy

Williams

They also placed WR Tyrie Cleveland, CB Zech McPhearson and DT Noah Elliss on waived/injured. Williams signed with the Eagles this offseason after his Browns career was derailed with injuries, missing 15 games in three seasons. The 2019 second-round pick should resurface before Week 1.

As a former second-round pick in 2019, Williams struggled to establish himself as a staple in the Browns’ defense. Injuries have definitely played a major role in his career to this point and now he gets a fresh start with the Eagles. There will be no pressure as he’s expected to simply add depth behind James Bradberry and Darius Slay.

The James Robinson and Christian McCaffrey trades have the Browns looking to move on from Hunt, who is on pace for career lows in a contract year. Hunt’s $1.35 million salary is team-friendly but trading Hunt would save Cleveland $200K in per-game roster bonuses. Cleveland has also received “multiple calls” on CB Greedy Williams ahead of next week’s trade deadline.

Williams will debut Sunday after opening the year on IR. With Denzel Ward (concussion) sidelined, Williams should start in his first game back. The Browns also signed LB Dakota Allen to the active roster and promoted CB Herb Miller and WR Chester Rogers from the practice squad.

Williams suffered a serious hamstring injury just before the Browns’ season opener and was placed on IR. Williams in 2021 played in 16 games for Cleveland, starting eight contests and recording two interceptions, primarily playing slot corner. He will join a Browns defense graded by PFF as the league’s 18th best coverage unit.

Williams was injured in practice this week and will now miss at least the first four games of the season. Cleveland will now have to ask for more snaps from CBs Greg Newsome, Martin Emerson, and A.J. Green behind Denzel Ward. The Browns play the Panthers, Jets, Steelers, and Falcons Weeks 1-4.

Williams was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday. Drafted in 2019, Williams has only appeared in 28 games since entering the league. It’s a tough blow for a player who has shown well when healthy. In 2021, he totaled two interceptions and 10 pass defenses while missing just one game. His absence will make the Browns a slightly easier team to beat through the air. Even in a revenge game, Baker Mayfield remains off the fantasy radar for his Week 1 matchup with Cleveland.

A mid-week downgrade is particularly worrisome in Week 1, as it is unlikely to be a rep management effort coming off the summer. Williams is now on the wrong side of questionable to suit up for Sunday’s opener against D.J. Moore and the Panthers. A return to “limited” on Friday would give him at least a chance at suiting up.

Cleveland was also without Denzel Ward (foot) for its June minicamp. Both are expected to be ready for training camp. Third-round CB Martin Emerson repped opposite Greg Newsome with Williams and Ward sidelined.

The Browns appear healthy by their injury report but that’s only because they will be missing players due to COVID-related absences and those don’t show on the report. Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton are both out, leaving D’Ernest Johnson as the team’s only running back with a carry on the year. Johnson will dominate the backfield work for the Browns and projects as a high-end RB2.