No surprise that Browns place Denzel Ward and Jack Conklin on PUP list

The Cleveland Browns made a series of roster moves on Tuesday, the day veterans joined the rookies and quarterbacks in Berea. Two of the several moves resulted in Denzel Ward and Jack Conklin being placed on the active/PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list.

Along with Conklin and Ward on the PUP list, Cleveland also placed defensive tackle Sheldon Day (back) and linebacker Anthony Walker (groin) on the active/non-football injury list. Wide receiver Javon Wims was placed on the active/non-football illness list.

Conklin and Ward will join rookie wide receiver David Bell on the PUP list and begin camp from the sidelines. However, the Browns are able to activate any three of those players at any time during training camp.

Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward is currently dealing with a foot injury that he suffered on the final day of mandatory minicamp. During practice, Ward was checked out by Browns trainers, before he was taken to the locker room.

Tests later revealed that the injury was nothing serious, but was something that would take a bit of time to heal. Obviously, Ward is not quite ready to practice and the Browns will not look to rush their shutdown cornerback back to practice.

Ward appeared at a youth skills camp in Akron, Ohio where he was wearing a walking boot on his injured foot. At the youth football skills camp, he told reporters that he would be ready to go for training camp so he is not expected to be on the PUP list for an extended period of time. Ward has been through a ton of soft tissue injuries in his still young career, so rehabbing is nothing new to him.

Conklin, a two-time First-team All-Pro player, is coming off a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. He suffered the season-ending injury during the team’s Week 12 matchup in Baltimore against the Ravens.

Cleveland’s starting right tackle underwent surgery after hearing the news and was reportedly ahead in his rehab process this offseason.

However, he still seems to be a little ways away from being able to be back healthy enough to practice. He’s expected to be able to be back to camp within the next few weeks. There’s no sense of urgency from the team as they do not want to rush back their star right tackle.

David Bell was also placed on the PUP list late last week when rookies reported for training camp with a foot injury. According to several sources, Bell is not expected to be on the list for very long.

Every practice lost due to injury for Bell is a missed opportunity as any rookie needs as many reps with his new team as possible.

All players on the PUP list are expected to be out for at least a week, or, in some cases, weeks. 

While the players continue to rehab and fight to get back on the practice field, other teammates will have the opportunity to prove themselves as they fight for a job on the final 53-man roster.