Cleveland Browns: 4 under the radar players vs the Bengals
Stephen Carlson
Stephen Carlson wasn’t a name that was on any Browns’ fans’ radar coming into the 2019 season. In limited action this season, Carlson has impressed and is making his case for being a part of the Browns’ tight end room going forward. But, where did he come from?
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Carlson is an undrafted free agent out of Princeton. The tight end was signed by the Browns back in the spring and remained with the team until the final roster cuts of training camp. After Carlson was cut and cleared waivers, the Browns signed him to their practice squad.
Then, as luck would have it, the tight end room started thinning out. First, David Njoku suffered a concussion and a broken wrist on the same play in week two. Then Pharoah Brown suffered a concussion in week eight against the Patriots, and four days later Carlson was promoted from the practice squad. Just days later, Njoku’s replacement in the passing game, Ricky Seals-Jones suffered a knee injury.
That’s when Carlson was given his opportunity to see the field and he has made the most of his limited reps. The ivy league product has recorded five receptions for 51-yards and a touchdown. Carlson has also shown improvement as a blocker.
This week with both Seals-Jones and Brown battling illnesses, and Njoku firmly locked in Freddie Kitchens’ dog house it should be Carlson that benefits.