Juan

Thornhill

Thornhill will now hit waivers but will be free to sign with any team if he goes unclaimed. The veteran safety joined the Steelers on a one-year contract this offseason after previously playing for the Browns. Thornhill has totaled 23 tackles and one pass breakup this season while playing primarily as a backup.

Thornhill was released by the Browns last month after an underwhelming two-year stint with the team. Injuries limited him to just 22 games over the last two seasons, but even when he was healthy, Thornhill failed to make the kind of impact we saw during his first four seasons with the Chiefs. Now, with the Steelers on a one-year prove-it deal, Thornhill will likely have to show what he can offer in camp if he hopes to earn a meaningful role in 2025.

Thornhill was a big-ticket signing for the Browns two years ago, inking a three-year, $21 million contract with the team. Injuries hampered him in Cleveland and he appeared in just 11 games in back-to-back seasons. Thornhill had 104 combined tackles and four pass breakups with the Browns. The veteran safety will turn 30 a month into the 2025 season but is still a starting-quality defensive back. He will also get top-notch coaching if he signs in San Francisco with Robert Saleh back in the defensive coordinator role.

The release of Thornhill means he’s free to sign with any team before free agency officially kicks off. Thornhill started 11 games for the Browns in each of the last two seasons, totaling 103 tackles and four pass breakups. The six-year vet had one year left on his current contract. Mary Kay Cabot reports Thornhill will be listed as a post-June 1 cut, which would free up $3.4 million in cap space while creating a dead cap hit of just over $2.2 million. Thornhill has started 74 of the 87 games he’s appeared in during his career, but his days as a starter could be coming to an end after an underwhelming stint with the Browns.

Delpit was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury in December and now the Browns open his practice window with Wild Card Weekend looming. He got in a limited practice on Wednesday, opening the door for a potential return on Saturday. Fellow defensive backs Juan Thornhill (calf) and Greg Newsome (knee) also practiced in a limited capacity as the secondary prepares for C.J. Stroud and company.

As expected, safety Juan Thornhill was removed from the injury report. Ward has dealt with a number of injuries this year. The shoulder issue forced him to miss Week 12 and will cost him at least one more appearance. Even without Ward in the lineup, Cleveland’s defense remains a nightmare matchup for Matthew Stafford and the Rams.

Fellow defensive back Juan Thornhill also missed practice. Thornhill is listed with a calf issue, though he played through the injury last week, so he should be good to go for Week 13 barring a setback. With Ward less likely to play and Myles Garrett also considered day-to-day, the Browns’ juggernaut defense could be a less formidable opponent for the Rams this week.

Ward played in the Browns’ Week 11 win over the Steelers, suffering a shoulder injury during the game. While it is unclear how severe the injury is, Ward sits out practice to begin the week. S Grant Delpit (thigh) and S Juan Thornhill (calf) also missed practice, leading to a thin Browns secondary.

Thornhill was unable to practice at all this week. The good news is that Cornerback Greg Newsome, who was dealing with a groin injury, was removed from the injury report. Thornhill suffered the calf injury and Week 10 and was listed as questionable to return. He did not retake the field after going down.

Ward exited the game in the first quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. Despite clearing concussion protocol, the Browns opted to sideline Ward for the remainder of the day with a neck injury. The Browns’ secondary has taken multiple hits on the day, with safety Juan Thornhill being listed as questionable to return with a calf injury.