3 players that aren’t safe on Browns initial 53-man roster

Cutdowns have come and gone across the NFL and unfortunately, many players are wondering what is next. Right now, the Browns have a few things to handle, including getting a couple of players to the injured reserve to open spots. Both LB Jordan Kunaszyk and DE Alex Wright are prime targets to end up on […]

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer

Aug 29, 2023 5:51 PM EDT

Cutdowns have come and gone across the NFL and unfortunately, many players are wondering what is next.

Right now, the Browns have a few things to handle, including getting a couple of players to the injured reserve to open spots. Both LB Jordan Kunaszyk and DE Alex Wright are prime targets to end up on the IR.

Such moves are going to allow the Browns to bring back players like OG Michael Dunn and DT Maurice Hurst if it all works out.

Besides the IR moves, the Browns very well could claim players from other teams for their 53-man roster. Therefore, just because a player made the initial roster, doesn’t mean they’re safe.

3 players who aren’t safe on the Browns’ roster

C Nick Harris

It was a surprise to see that the Browns kept Harris due to having drafted Luke Wypler. Harris is only a center in the NFL and you’re asking for issues if you put him at guard.

Harris is a solid player at center and that is the reason he is still here. But his limitations past that make it awkward to keep both him and Wypler. Wypler seemed to be the obvious choice to be the backup center since he’s on a rookie contract and was impressive in the preseason.

Wypler did play some guard in the preseason but the flaws were there against backups, he’s not ready to contribute there.

Pushing Harris off of the roster and bringing in another guard would be an ideal move for the Browns, with Wypler then being focused in at safety.

S Ronnie Hickman

Hickman is a great story, going from an undrafted free agent to making the initial 53-man roster. But it is a little shocking that the Browns kept five safeties. It could be what they’re going to roll with since they like the group entirely, or it could be temporary.

D’Anthony Bell made the team as an undrafted free agent last year and had a good training camp. It very well could happen where the Browns cut Hickman to add a player elsewhere, keeping just four safeties as a result.

Being he was a Buckeye, Hickman already has a lot of fans in Northeast Ohio that wouldn’t be happy to see him go.

LB Matthew Adams

Despite not playing much in the preseason and missing a couple of weeks during training camp, the special teams player made the 53-man roster. Right now, the Browns have seven linebackers on the roster, it soon could be six if/when Kunaszyk goes to the IR.

Linebacker is another spot that the Browns could take away from to supplement other positions. It is no secret that linebacker is less important than your defensive line and defensive backs, so Cleveland could opt to go with less there despite initial results.

The roster is at 53 players right now but don’t expect this to be the same 53 that is there by the end of the week. Moves are coming and these players listed aren’t necessarily safe.