Browns Cut Ties with RB Ahead of Rams Game, Sign Familiar Face

Before the Rams game, the Browns cut ties with RB and signed a familiar face.

The Cleveland Browns continue to work around the edges to improve their roster, especially on the offensive side of the football.

Browns Zone’s Scott Petrak reported on Cleveland’s recent roster moves on Tuesday, Nov. 28, noting the running back from the team’s practice squad. #Browns RB John Kelly Jr. re-signs to practice squad, RB releases Kenya Drake from practice squad.
CB Thomas Graham Jr. declined IR. “#Browns RB John Kelly Jr. re-signs to practice squad & RB releases Kenyan Drake from practice squad,” Petrak wrote. CB Thomas Graham Jr. IR denied”.

Browns favor familiarity over experience in John Kelly Jr.

Kelly has also been on Cleveland’s practice squad several times this offseason. He appeared in five games for the Browns over the past two years and was a key part of their preseason roster. Kelly played a total of 43 regular season snaps on special teams for Cleveland from 2021 to 2022 and saw one snap per Pro Football Reference. The Browns signed Drake on Oct. 31, the NFL trade deadline, after holding a workout for the former Baltimore Ravens a week earlier. Drake has a more significant history in the NFL than Kelly. He appeared in 103 games during his eight-year career, starting 44 of them. In that span, Drake has 3,866 rushing yards and 33 TDs.

Kelly, 27, is two years younger than Drake and has more experience in the Browns’ offense and locker room, which may have been a factor in the team’s decision to revert to the previous roster.

The Browns need kick returner Pierre Strong Jr. to replace their third string RB.

The Browns’ roster moves on Tuesday aren’t significant at all, but the addition of Kelly could be significant in a few other ways. Second-year starting shortstop Jerome Ford has played in all 11 of Cleveland’s 2023 games, but has suffered an injury that could keep him out. Backup Kareem Hunt has battled injuries since returning to the lineup after losing Nick Chubb to a season-ending knee injury. Browns third quarterback Pierre Strong Jr. played the role very well, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt on 35 carries and one touchdown. However, if one of Cleveland’s top three guards goes down, the team will need a repairable replacement, as that player will likely see some snaps based on Strong’s offensive usage thus far. Strong also carries the Browns’ top scheme. If he’s gone for any length of time, Cleveland will need someone to fill in, and Kelly is a viable option in that regard, but he hasn’t been a consistent punt returner at any point in his NFL career. Ford was a starter last season but suffered an ankle injury in his return game against the Atlanta Falcons and was placed on IR. Cleveland can’t afford to jeopardize the health of its key special teams position, its No. 3, which gives the player quite a spot on the practice squad reserve roster.