Browns Game 1 depth chart not kind to Terrelle Pryor, Dwayne Bowe
By Thomas Moore
Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (80) works out during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns released their depth chart today for Sunday’s season-opening game against the New York Jets.
The biggest takeaway comes at the wide receiver position, where Dwayne Bowe (one reception for eight yards in the preseason) and Terrelle Pryor (zero receptions for zero yards, also known as a “Brian Robiskie”) are listed as the third- and fourth-string receivers, respectively.
Bowe and Pryor currently sit behind Brian Hartline and Travis Benjamin, with Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel listed at the top two spots on the opposite side.
Bowe and Pryor are listed in positions that traditionally are inactive on game days, which would not be a good sign for Pryor’s longterm prospects of staying on the club.
“The NFL is a win now business and we need our players to be productive.” – Head coach Mike Pettine on Terrelle Pryor
“It was something we’ve talked about in here at length [in the media room] that it was – I think the phrase ‘leap of faith’ (for him to make the team) was used, and I agree with that,” head coach Mike Pettine told Northeast Ohio Media Group. “That spot is largely because of his potential, but as the season goes on, I mean it’s sooner than later that that’s going to have to translate, that’s he’s going to have to be a productive member of this team.
“You walk that fine line between ‘Hey, we think this guy can do it,’ but as we all know, the NFL is a win now business and we need our players to be productive. All of that weighed into the decision.”
One other area that stands out is at running back, where there are just two players: Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, who has still not been cleared to return to practice after suffering a concussion against Tampa Bay in the preseason.
If Johnson isn’t cleared in the next day or two, the Browns will need to do something as they can’t go into the game against the Jets with just Crowell healthy enough to run the ball.
While Pettine has said the run game will be “sufficient” against the Jets (a team that finished fifth against the run last season), the Browns may be forced to call upon Shaun Draughn from the practice squad.
If nothing else, the running backs have the support of left tackle Joe Thomas.
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“(Isaiah) is going to do a great job, and I am excited to have Shaun Draughn out there,” Thomas said. “He did a great job until he broke his hand. I think we are really comfortable with who we have. Then you have Duke (Johnson Jr.). When he has been there, he has been really impressive. Obviously, he hasn’t been there a lot so we are going to kind of take him a little bit slow and still be pretty excited when he gets back out there.
“I guess I am not concerned about it. I am excited Shaun will be back soon. He played in the fourth game already and the things we saw from him were great. (Before) he broke his hand, he very well could have been the No. 1 running back. I wouldn’t say there is concern.”
Outside of the wide receivers and running backs, the depth chart looks pretty much as expected.