Browns abruptly make head-scratching move to cut preseason star following him making the initial 53-man roster
The Browns are parting ways with a star of their preseason in a questionable roster move at best.
The Cleveland Browns cut their roster down to 53 players on Sunday, and a couple areas immediately looked like they could use reinforcements. Cornerback and defensive end are two positions where the Browns need depth, which makes their latest roster decision all the more confusing.
Cleveland is in a position where it’s hurting if either Denzel Ward or Tyson Campbell go down with an injury. One of the best defensive back depth pieces this preseason has been undrafted free agent cornerback Michael Coats Jr., who was waived by the Browns on Tuesday morning, according to Aaron Wilson.
Michael Coats Jr. earned a roster spot this preseason
It’s a head-scratching move for a player who was the only undrafted free agent to make the initial 53-man roster and one of the standout defenders from this preseason. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound cornerback has the ability to play outside in a pinch if the Browns need him to, but he is best fit in the slot due to his size. He’s a good enough athlete where he can line up on the boundary, though.
Even with the Browns claiming former Buffalo Bills cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. on Monday, keeping Coats around still made too much sense.
Coats didn’t play high school football. He went to junior college and then ended up at Nevada, where he had four interceptions and 41 tackles in 2024 before transferring to West Virginia, where he finished his career with seven pass breakups and 30 tackles in 2025. He’s still a raw player, and for him to have the preseason he did with Cleveland, earning every bit of making the team, getting cut is a real question mark.
Browns might be trying to sneak Coats onto the practice squad
Coats did come up with an injury in the final preseason game, but the Browns never placed him on injured reserve. That move signaled the injury wasn’t serious. Him being waived now shows the Browns are potentially trying to sneak him onto the practice squad, and while that could work out for them there, he’s a player who deserved to be on this 53-man roster.
His ability in coverage to make plays on the ball has been on display all training camp. This is a questionable move by the Browns on Tuesday, and it remains to be seen whether another team claims Coats before he has a chance to clear waivers and land back in Cleveland.
