Harrison

Bryant

Bryant, the team’s No. 3 TE, and No. 4 TE Justin Shorter (illness) were both unable to practice on Wednesday but, fortunately, No. 2 TE Michael Mayer (personal) returned to play in Week 11 after an extended absence. Mayer’s presence helps negate concern over depth.

Mayer was a full participant in all three practices this week. He remains on the reserve/NFI list but should be removed over the weekend. His questionable tag is likely a formality. With Harrison Bryant out for Week 11, Mayer should immediately slot in as the team’s TE2.

Bryant left the Raiders’ Week 9 loss to the Bengals with an ankle injury. He was the direct backup to Brock Bowers with Michael Mayer out, but Bryant starts out not practicing out of the bye. If Bryant cannot go in Week 11 against the Dolphins, Justin Shorter will be the direct backup to Bowers, who will continue to eat targets.

Bryant caught a pair of passes in the Raiders’ loss to the Bengals. He has been the backup to Brock Bowers with Michael Mayer out since September, but Bryant left the game with an apparent ankle injury. The Raiders listed him as questionable to return, but he would not as the team heads into a Week 10 bye.

Bryant’s elbow could be implicated. As he walked off the field under his own power, Bryant was using one hand to support his other hand while a training staff member stabilized his upper arm. He is headed to the locker room.

Bryant, a highly productive college tight end who flashed in limited opportunity for the Browns, will be paired with Michael Mayer in 2024. A sure-handed, somewhat speedy player with after-the-catch ability, it wouldn’t be shocking if Bryant became the team’s primary pass-catching tight end. He posted 89/791/10 over four years in Cleveland.

Bryant saw a green zone target early in the game but was tackled short of the goal line and made his present felt with a 47-yard catch-and-run behind the linebackers, highlighting his elite athleticism in the process. The soon to be free agent tight end could find more room to flash his athleticism if he gets out from behind David Njoku this offseason.

Bryant essentially operated as the Browns’ third receiving option once Amari Cooper left the game with a concussion. Joe Flacco was able to have a lot of success on play action, which allowed Bryant to get open over the middle of the field a few times today, including on his touchdown grab. Bryant is still operating behind David Njoku, but the Browns have a pretty thin receiving corps, so Bryant could emerge as a TE2 option if Cooper were to miss any time and Flacco were to remain under center.

Bryant got a few reps in the red zone and made the most of them with a score in the fourth quarter to seal Cincinanti’s fate. Byrant isn’t on the fantasy radar but his red zone usage could result in a few frustrating weeks for fantasy managers counting on the more notable skill position players in Cleveland.

“Bryant isn’t especially dynamic in the pass game or a powerful blocker, but he’s proven to be a capable NFL player,” Jackson notes. This does not portend especially well for Bryant’s NFL future entering the final year of his rookie deal. The former fourth-round pick has finished between 233 and 239 receiving yards on the season in all three of his years in the NFL. If he’s behind Akins, Bryant is not a lock to make the roster.