Cleveland Browns bring back Derrick Willies

Cleveland Browns add Derrick Willies to their practice squad

On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns made a roster move as they added wide receiver Derrick Willies, a player who is very familiar with this team. A former undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, Willies was part of the same rookie class as Baker Mayfield and the two seemed to have a great rapport during the preseason.

For that reason, Willies was able to make the 53-man roster and while he was quiet to begin the season, he had a breakout performance in a Week 5 win over Baltimore. In that game, Willies had to step in to fill in for some injured players and he made his first three NFL catches, including a huge 39-yard play that helped set up the game-winning field goal in the 12-9 victory.

He finished with three receptions for 61 yards but also suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on IR for the remainder of the season. He has not been able to play again since then and spent all of the 2019 season on the Cleveland practice squad.

So far in 2020, Willies had not been added to any other team’s roster but finds himself in a good position here considering the relationship he had with Mayfield. On top of that, Willies brings something to the table the current Browns receiving corps lacks — size. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 209-pounds, he’s the biggest target at wide receiver on the roster.

Cleveland is trying to make it through the season after losing Odell Beckham to a torn ACL while also watching Jarvis Landry try and make it through the season while recovering from offseason hip surgery.