Cleveland Browns: Surprising wide receiver gets first-team reps Sunday
By Dan Justik
The Cleveland Browns wide receiver room has been nothing but chaos since training camp started, and it has resulted in a surprising receiver getting reps with the first-team.
The Cleveland Browns’ group of wide receivers have been the story of training camp, and mostly for bad reasons.
From Josh Gordon missing the beginning of camp, to Ricardo Louis’ season-ending injury, Corey Coleman being traded, and Antonio Callaway being issued a citation for possession of marijuana, it has been a wild ride for the Browns receivers so far.
The uncertainty at the position has forced the Browns front office to hold a workout with free agent wide receivers this week to add depth. One big-name free agent, Dez Bryant, will be a part of the workout.
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But until the Browns make a potential move for a free agent receiver and/or until Gordon returns, the Browns have to make due with the receivers they currently have. And almost all of the Browns notable receivers have played with the first-team.
On Sunday, one wide receiver surprisingly played with the first-team offense: rookie Damion Ratley.
The Browns seem to be giving first-team reps to a decent amount of the wide receivers. Ratley was not playing on the first-team for the entirety of Sunday’s practice, but him receiving those reps is significant for the young wide receiver.
The sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft did not play much in the Browns’ first preseason game on Thursday night. He was targeted only two times, catching one pass for 14 yards. If his practice reps on Sunday are a sign of things to come, he could receive a significant jump in playing time when the Browns take on the Buffalo Bills on Friday in their second preseason game.
Coming out of Texas A&M, Ratley did not fill up the stat line during his time as an Aggie. He was drafted more for his potential and his current ability to create big plays with his speed. He showed some of that potential and the burst he has with the first-team offense on Sunday.
That Baker Mayfield great throw to Callaway on the inside slant v NYG? I saw Tyrod Taylor made similar play at practice today to Damion Ratley, through a tight window under Jamie Collins stretched arms.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) August 12, 2018
The Browns are going to have a tough decision to make with Ratley when the Browns have to cut the roster down to 53 players. Ratley has the potential to be a very good receiver in the NFL, so it may be hard for the Browns to sneak him through waivers to get him on the practice squad.
But if they do not want to take the risk of losing him, that means they would have to keep him on the roster. And unless the Browns plan on carrying six receivers, they would have to cut either Rashard Higgins or Jeff Janis to keep Ratley on the roster.
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It is obvious the Browns like what Ratley can do on the field, or they would not be playing him with the first-team offense. If Ratley can continue to string together good practices and some big plays in the preseason games, he could find himself having a bigger role this season than many anticipated.