NFL teams aren’t required to release a weekly practice report during training camp. That means, when players miss time ahead of preseason games, the only information we typically get is either personal, injury, or contract related.
So it's unclear why Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman was present for practice but not participating on Wednesday. It’s entirely possible that he picked up a minor injury during Tuesday’s workout, which was held in full pads.
It’s also very possible that Tillman’s run with the Browns is about to come to an end via trade.
While teams can keep preseason injuries close to the vest, they are required to release an “unofficial” depth chart prior to each game. Cleveland’s depth chart for its upcoming preseason opener at Chicago was released to the media on Tuesday night, and Tillman was among the names that jumped off the page.
The Browns listed three wide receivers among their starting offense, with Jerry Jeudy and Denzel Boston on the boundary and KC Concepcion in the slot. Tillman, Cleveland’s third-round draft pick in 2023, was listed as a backup along with Isaiah Bond, Tylan Wallace, Malachi Corley, and Gage Larvadain.
The writing has been on the wall for Tillman, whose quiet training camp has made him an intriguing option for teams seeking wide receiver depth on the trade market. He’s been repping behind Bond in practice this summer and has rarely contributed on special teams throughout his three seasons in Cleveland.
Tillman profiles as a clear-cut/trade candidate, and playing him in preseason games could prove counterproductive to the Browns’ chances of landing a draft pick in exchange for the 26-year-old over the coming weeks.
The Browns have one clear reason to keep Cedric Tillman healthy this summer
Tillman has flashed plenty of talent throughout his Browns tenure. He caught a deep touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson over cornerback Jeadyn Lukus during Tuesday’s practice on Aug. 11.
It’s the numbers game in Cleveland that’s working against Tillman.
The addition of Concepcion and Boston in the 2026 NFL Draft naturally pushed Tillman down the depth chart. With Jeudy and Boston now firmly entrenched as the starting boundary receivers, and Bond representing the team’s best vertical threat, Tillman has had a hard time carving out a role throughout Todd Monken's offseason program. His chances of winning the No. 5 wide receiver job are complicated by players like Wallace, Larvadain, and Corley being core special teams contributors.
The other number is Tillman’s 2026 base salary, which jumped to around $3.6 million this offseason due to a proven performance escalator based on playing time. None of that salary is guaranteed, so the Browns can recoup valuable cash and salary cap savings either by waiving or trading Tillman prior to the regular season.
Contending teams looking to get a jump on those with better waiver priorities could be willing to part with a late Day 3 draft pick in 2027 or 2028 to take on Tillman’s expiring contract. Any compensation, including a potential pick swap, will likely suffice for Cleveland as it prepares to move on from another disappointing result from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Add us as a preferred source on Google