With the Cleveland Browns’ final preseason game of 2026 taking place Thursday, all eyes will be on the roster bubble players, as head coach Todd Monken has already announced that the starters — and Shedeur Sanders — won’t play.
One of the intriguing players on the bubble who fans were looking forward to seeing was wide receiver Cedric Tillman. However, Tillman won't make it to the game, with Cleveland deciding to release the veteran wideout Thursday morning.
While Tillman was always a long shot to make the roster, the timing is especially interesting, because Thursday’s preseason game would have been his final audition for other teams.
Now, Tillman is a man in search of a home after a rough offseason.
Browns release Cedric Tillman ahead of Browns’ final preseason game
With 2026 being Tillman’s fourth season in the league, he was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Unfortunately, the wideout’s contract year didn’t go according to plan. Tillman had essentially been demoted in Cleveland, with the Browns prioritizing young receivers KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, and Isaiah Bond.
That led to Tillman spending most of training camp with the third unit. If that wasn’t brutal enough, the receiver also had to deal with a minor injury that sidelined him and prevented him from appearing in the first two preseason games. Tillman was back at Cleveland’s practice during the week ahead of Thursday’s game, but for some reason, the team decided to waive him, essentially denying him a chance to suit up and make a statement.
Thursday’s game could have helped Tillman create a market for himself with a strong performance, possibly even establishing himself as a trade target or a priority waiver claim. Instead, the receiver hits the market with his resume consisting of only what he did in his first three seasons.
The veteran wide receiver has played in 38 games, starting 19, since being drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Browns. In those games, Tillman has caught 71 passes for 833 yards and five touchdowns.
While he never took the leap that Cleveland hoped he would, which ultimately resulted in him being replaced, Tillman still offers a level of production that could help other teams.
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