Cleveland Browns: Players with the most to gain Thursday night

Rookie WRs

The rookie wide receivers are a group with a lot to gain on Thursday night. Last week the rookie wideouts played very few snaps as most of the playing time was given to receivers on the roster from last year.

One of those receivers was Rannell Hall, who fractured his leg last Friday in Green Bay and will miss the entire season. Rookie Corey Coleman returned to practice this week along with Josh Gordon who hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2014, but neither is confirmed to be playing Thursday as of right now. Veteran Andrew Hawkins also remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

With a banged up receiving corps, rookies Ricardo Louis, Jordan Payton and Rashard Higgins expect to play a significant amount of snaps and have the opportunity to compete for playing time. In a media presser last week, Higgins acknowledged the opportunity he and the other receivers have to compete.

“I don’t say we like are fighting against each other – we’re fighting to build with the whole team,”  Higgins said. “I know with (Browns coach) Hue (Jackson) and us as a team, we just want to win. So however we can contribute to the team, that’s the way we’re going to do it.”

In minimal snaps last Friday, Higgins was able to leave a strong impression by catching his only target, a back shoulder one-on-one in the end zone for a touchdown from Cody Kessler. Louis and Payton played seldom and did not record a catch.

Expect Coach Jackson to play all three rookies a significant portion of the game and to give them chances to make plays on Thursday night. With Gordon’s suspension and nagging injuries to key receivers, these three rookies have the opportunity to work themselves into the rotation early in the season and get significant playing time.

Next: Gilbert and Taylor