John

Kelly Jr.

The Chargers have a deep running back room with Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton occupying the top two spots, but Hines does offer some value as a third-down back and returner. The veteran running back is simply hoping to compete for a spot on a 53-man roster in camp, which the Chargers may be willing to offer him. We’ll see if anything materializes from the visit between the two sides. In addition to Hines, the Chargers also worked out RB John Kelly, who had a short stint with the team last season.

Zappe started one game for the Browns last season and has 15 total starts across three career seasons. He now hits unrestricted free agency and will be in the backup quarterback mix for teams looking to add at the position. The Browns also did not tender an offer to DB D’Anthony Bell, DT Michael Dwumfour, DE James Houston, and RB John Kelly.

Kelly was with the team in the pre-season and actually led the Browns in rushing with 117 yards on 37 carries (3.2 yards per carry); however, the sixth round pick from the 2018 draft was cut at the end of training camp. With the Browns releasing Kenyan Drake from the practice squad this week, they decided to bring back Kelly; although, he figures to be nothing more than emergency depth.

Felton’s days felt numbered after the Browns went out and traded for Pierre Strong last week. Felton was a game-day inactive in a handful of games last season and entered training camp already on the roster bubble. In addition to Felton, the Browns also released/waived CB Lorenzo Burns, WR Jaelon Darden, RB Hassan Hall, WR Mike Harley Jr., DE Sam Kamara, DE Jeremiah Martin, S Tanner McAlister, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, QB Kellen Mond, DE Lonnie Phelps, LB Charlie Thomas III, DE Isaiah Thomas, DT Tommy Togiai, WR Austin Watkins, K Cade York, G Michael Dunn, DT Trysten Hill, DT Maurice Hurst II, RB John Kelly Jr.

Kelly led the Browns with 37 carries this preseason, turning them into 117 yards (3.2 YPC) and one touchdown. He was never going to crack Cleveland’s deep running back room. But the former sixth-rounder out of Tennessee might be on the Browns’ emergency list this season.

A fourth-round pick in 2018, Lauletta was let go by the Browns earlier today. In addition, the Browns waived/released WR KhaDarel Hodge, DL Sheldon Day, RB Johnny Stanton, LB Elijah Lee, DL Joe Jackson, DL Cameron Malveaux, DL Curtis Weaver, S Jovante Moffatt, DB Elijah Benton, WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, TE Jordan Franks, TE Kyle Markway, G Colby Gossett, LB Willie Harvey, LB Tegray Scales, RB John Kelly, C Javon Patterson, CB Emmanuel Rugamba, and DT Marvin Wilson.

The ex-Ram made zero 2020 regular season appearances after getting waived at final cuts in Los Angeles. Although he is still only 24, Kelly now has just 30 carries through three seasons after coming off the board at No. 176 overall in 2018. Cleveland is one of the places to be if you’re a running back, but Kelly won’t be a strong contender for No. 3 duties in 2021 behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Kelly, Alexander, and Demby are the only real notable names. Kelly was a 2018 sixth-round pick who could never ascend the depth chart, as the Rams continually bypassed him to make other draft picks at the position. He has 30 career carries for 83 scoreless yards. Demby was also a 2018 sixth-rounder. Alexander was a Supplemental pick by Washington.

“I think it’ll just naturally work itself out,” McVay continued. “I think if you look at that success (San Francisco) had last year with that running back-by-committee approach...what I thought Kyle (Shanahan) and their players did a great job of is, ‘Hey, we’re going to have an open-mind approach, we’re going to be committed to trying to have some balance and then we’ll go with the hot hand or whoever really expresses himself as deserving of the carries. We’ve got four backs that we feel like are all NFL-legitimate starting-caliber backs and not feeling like you’ve got to force carries or touches to any of them. Just open mind and see how these guys do.” The four backs he’s speaking of are second-round rookie Cam Akers, former No. 70 overall pick Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown (who out-touched Henderson 71 to 43 last year), and former preseason standout John Kelly. Whatever the end product, fans and fantasy players alike should expect Los Angeles’ offense to bring a fresh approach to the field this year.

The Rams drafted Kelly in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He flashed occasionally in the preseason, but ultimately converted 30 carries and three targets into just 110 scoreless yards in seven regular season games. The Rams signed WR Nsimba Webster to the active roster from the practice squad in a corresponding roster move.