Cleveland Browns

Amid ongoing speculation that he's a candidate to be traded this season, Cleveland Browns veteran receiver Amari Cooper is focused on helping his team overcome its early struggles.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Cooper said Thursday that he hasn't given thought to the ongoing trade rumors because "he's only focused on winning." The Browns have lost three straight games and have a 1-4 record entering Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 30-year-old hasn't made much of an impact this year, recording 20 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns. He was coming off an impressive 2023 campaign in which he posted a career-high 1,250 receiving yards.

Cooper is in the final year of his contract and has been rumored to be a trade candidate since the offseason when ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported that he could have been involved in a deal with the San Francisco 49ers for star receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who was holding out of training camp amid a contract dispute that eventually got resolved.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said earlier this week that he was open to the possibility of giving play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey if the team's issues persist. Cleveland ranks last in the NFL with an average of 239.4 yards of total offense.

If the Browns don't turn things around quickly, perhaps their best course would be to trade Cooper and other veterans to recoup assets and start building for the future.

An anonymous NFL coach believes a lack of synchrony is primarily responsible for the struggles of quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns' offense so far this season.

Speaking to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi, an NFC coach said:

"I actually think [Watson's] still got a lot of the arm, talent and ability, maybe not quite as mobile as it used to be. It just looks like he's disjointed, and the entire offense is disjointed. There doesn't appear to be a lot of trust in what's going on around him and that can lead to bad play really fast. People underestimate how important that is. I don't think it's talent or scheme, they just aren't on the same page."

At 1-4, the Browns have been among the NFL's worst teams this season, and inconsistent play from Watson has led to speculation regarding whether head coach Kevin Stefanski would be wise to make a change under center.

During Sunday's 34-13 blowout loss to the Washington Commanders, Watson went 15-of-28 for a season-low 125 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Commanders take it away! 😤

📺: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/7yM8hWjLgS

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024

The offense looked lifeless compared to the unit led by Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, but Stefanski made it clear that he isn't ready to move on from Watson as the starter.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Stefanski was matter of fact in his analysis of the quarterback position, saying: "We're not changing quarterbacks,. We need to play better. I need to coach better."

For the season, Watson is completing 60.2 percent of his passes for 852 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing for 131 yards and a score.

He has yet to throw for at least 200 yards in a game this season, and his QBR of 21.0 is the worst in the league among the 31 qualifying starters.

Over the course of his first four NFL seasons with the Houston Texans, Watson looked like a budding superstar, earning three Pro Bowl selections and scoring over 30 total touchdowns in a season three times.

However, Watson missed the entire 2021 season due to a contract dispute, and during his absence, 22 women filed lawsuits against him, alleging that he engaged in sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

Watson ultimately settled the cases out of court and was not charged criminally, but he was still suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season after the Browns acquired him in a trade with the Texans.

Cleveland gave up a huge package of draft picks in exchange for Watson, including three first-rounders.

Watson appeared rusty in the six starts he made during his first season in Cleveland, and things didn't get much better in the six starts he made last season before a shoulder injury landed him on season-ending injured reserve.

All told, Watson has now made 17 starts with the Browns across three seasons, going 9-8 and completing 60.0 percent of his passes for 3,069 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 picks.

It is fair to wonder if the Browns' unwillingness to bench him is based solely on his contract since the organization shockingly signed him to a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million deal in 2022.

The Browns have a capable veteran backup in Jameis Winston, and even if at least one NFL coach believes Watson is still able to play at a high level under the right circumstances, it may be difficult for Stefanski to resist a change if the team continues to falter.

Watson's next chance to turn things around will come Sunday when the Browns go on the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cleveland Browns are 1-4 on the season, taking big losses against the Dallas Cowboys (33-17) and the Washington Commanders (34-14) behind quarterback Deshaun Watson in his third season with the franchise.

Nick Chubb's absence has been noticeable, but the Browns' issues run much deeper than just missing their star running back.

Outside NFL executives have noticed a disconnect in the Browns' performance, a team that went 11-6 just one season ago. Under five-year head coach Kevin Stefanski, the team hasn't been playing its signature brand of football.

In fact, execs have likened the 2024 Browns team to a struggling imitation of the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I don't know what they are doing," one exec said according to The Athletic's Mike Sando. "No identity. Maybe it is Chubb not being there. They cannot help but have taken a step back without (Bill) Callahan. It doesn't seem like this is Stefanski's offense."

Behind-the-scenes struggles appear to be spilling onto the field, as Deshaun Watson ranks 31st in EPA per pass play, according to Sando, with five touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.

With Stefanski confirming that they are 'not changing quarterbacks,' and Watson locked into a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, it seems the Browns are committed to staying the course.

The Browns are closer to the No. 1 overall draft pick than they are the playoffs.

The Deshaun Watson trade is the worst in NFL history. It’s set the organization back years.

— Nick Pedone (@NickPedone12) October 6, 2024

"Problem is, what do they do to spark the team?" another exec said. "Their hands are tied… With this quarterback (Watson), you can do whatever you want, supposedly, so you try to, but it's not in your DNA. It's cool if it is working, but if it is not working, guys are standing around looking at each other saying, 'Wait a minute, why are we doing this?'"

So the question remains: What are the Browns doing wrong, and what is the blueprint for this team?

The Cleveland Browns are not making a quarterback change.

Following the Browns Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that the team would not be making a quarterback switch despite backup Jameis Winston relieving starter Deshaun Watson in the 34-13 loss.

#Browns Kevin Stefanski “we’re not changing quarterbacks” pic.twitter.com/mKOo6WvtDy

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 6, 2024

"We're not changing quarterbacks," Stefanski said, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "We need to play better, I need to coach better, and that's really all it is."

Watson went 15-of-28 for 125 yards and a touchdown in the loss while also adding 14 yards on three rushes. Winston completed his only pass attempt for 16 yards.

Watson is now up to 852 passing yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions on the season and the Browns sit at 1-4. He has struggled to elevate the offense to a new gear and now the team has a really difficult path to find a path to the postseason.

Winston had his first true action of the 2024 season and while it was limited, his prior experience makes him an intriguing option to force a spark. He has 22,104 career passing yards and 141 touchdowns and has compiled an overall record of 34-46.

Benching Watson could send a message to the team and maybe even light a fire in him that allows him to fight for the job and improve his playing level. It's a difficult decision to make, especially considering that Watson is on the third year of his five-year, $230 million contract.

With that in mind, it looks like Stefanski is not yet ready to move off of Watson and the 29-year-old will have some more opportunities to show why he should remain the starter.

Following a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, who were missing both Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams, the Cleveland Browns reportedly held a players-only meeting in hopes of finding a spark as they face a 1-3 start to their season.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini detailed the meeting ahead of Cleveland's Week 5 matchup with Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.

Cleveland's franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson, has been struggling alongside his team this season, throwing for four touchdowns, three interceptions and 727 yards over four games.

With Watson's struggles at the forefront of the Browns' offense, one Cleveland player told Russini that "he really gives us the best chance."

However, the team's struggles aren't solely on Watson, as the defense has also been underperforming. After finishing as the top-ranked unit last season, the Browns currently sit 11th in yards allowed per game (299).

Compounding the offensive issues for Cleveland is Watson's contract. He's in the third year of a five-year, $230 million contract and has failed to live up to expectations after being traded to the Browns from the Houston Texans.

Watson's contract carries dead salary cap hits of $172.77 million in 2025 and $99.835 million in 2026, making it extremely difficult to move on from him via release or trade.

Cleveland does have Jameis Winston as a viable backup if Watson's performances eventually result in a change under center. However, the Browns will be hoping that this week's team meeting will inspire a change in form for Watson and company.

While Las Vegas Raiders star receiver Davante Adams is the most coveted player on the trade market, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said he believes teams who need a fallback option will turn their attention to Cleveland Browns veteran wideout Amari Cooper.

"Do I think the Browns are shopping him right now? No. But he's got a very attractive salary because when they reworked his deal this offseason only $1.2 million is on the books base salary. So, teams could get him on the cheap. Only 30 years old, still a really good player. So, I do expect teams to at least call on Cooper," Fowler said on Saturday's episode of SportsCenter.

A look at receivers that could garner trade interest for teams that strike out on Davante Adams. pic.twitter.com/S4Ra395YaK

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 5, 2024

Cooper was recently asked about his name being floated in trade rumors, and he said he doesn't pay attention to the chatter online.

"No, I'm not aware of it, no," Cooper said told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra). "Usually if I don't have a good game, I try to stay off of social media. That's one thing that I've learned, because I can be kind of sensitive about the way that I play, and just being on social media, there's nothing about hiding that. So no, I haven't seen any of it."

Cooper is in the final year of his contract. Through four games, he has 16 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns. With the Browns off to a 1-3 start, they could be open to shipping him away to recoup assets for the future.

A 10-year veteran, Cooper would be a strong addition for teams in need of improvements on the outside. The Kansas City Chiefs, who placed receiver Rashee Rice on injured reserve due to a knee injury, will likely be exploring the trade market, making Cooper a viable option for the defending Super Bowl Champions.

If the Browns are unable to get back on track in Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders, Cooper's days in Cleveland could be numbered.

Nick Chubb has made significant progress in recovering from last season's devastating knee injury, but the Cleveland Browns running back is still unsure when he'll make his 2024 debut.

"It felt good," Chubb said on Thursday, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "I've been doing things on my own for a while now, so I've been used to everything I've done out there. It feels good."

Oyefusi noted that Chubb said he'll make his return "whenever I feel good."

Chubb suffered the injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season and had surgery to repair his medial capsule, meniscus and MCL in September before another surgery in November to repair his ACL.

He was designated to return to practice on Wednesday after spending the first four weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list and was on the field later that day. He practiced for the second time on Thursday.

The Browns and Chubb don't have a specific date in mind for his return, but Cleveland has 21 days to active him to the 53-man roster.

Despite the scary injury that ended his season prematurely last year, Chubb said he isn't nervous about taking hits once he's back on the field.

"Once you get out there and you're running around, it's like you're 8 years old again," Chubb said. "It's like riding a bike. That's not something that's in my head. You can't control that. So, I'm going to go out there and play fast."

In his last full season in 2022, Chubb was one of the best backs in the league, picking up 1,525 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns—his fourth consecutive season with at least 1,000 rushing yards. He appeared to be on his way to another big year in 2023, recording 170 rushing yards in two games before the injury.

The Browns have gone 1-3 through the first four weeks of the season amid a sluggish start to the year offensively. Cleveland's 16.5 points per game and 94.8 rushing yards per game rank 26th in the NFL as the team is desperate for a spark in the backfield.

Amid a 1-3 start with an offense that ranks 27th in the NFL in points per game, the Cleveland Browns are getting closer to having Nick Chubb back on the field.

The Browns announced on Wednesday that Chubb has been designated for return to practice after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list due to a knee injury.

Chubb hasn't played since Week 2 of the 2023 season when he suffered a torn MCL, meniscus and damage to his ACL in his left knee in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 28-year-old previously suffered a dislocated kneecap, torn MCL, PCL and LCL in the same knee during his sophomore season at Georgia in 2015. He returned for the Bulldogs' season opener the following year.

Chubb had to undergo two different surgeries to repair the damage to his knee from last season. The first procedure, for his MCL and meniscus, was on Sept. 30. He had a second procedure for the ACL on Nov. 14.

The Browns said after the second surgery that Chubb would be able to return to play during the 2024 season.

In the early days of training camp, The Athletic's Zac Jackson noted Chubb was doing work on the side with members of the team's training staff and they weren't going to rush him back on the field.

Chubb was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of camp and transferred to the regular-season PUP list before Week 1. The move ensured he would have to miss at least the first four games.

Players who are designated for return from the PUP list have 21 days to be activated or they must remain on the reserve list for the entire season.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Monday that Chubb is "doing well," but he declined to say when he might return to game action.

The Browns have yet to score 20 points in a game this season. They've been held to fewer than 100 rushing yards in three of their first four games, including just 92 in Sunday's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Chubb averaged 1,268 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns per season in his first five years from 2018 to '22. His 5.3 yards per carry is the second-highest in NFL history among running backs with at least 750 attempts.

The Davante Adams era in Las Vegas appears to be nearing its end after an NFL Network report emerged Tuesday stating that the three-time first-team All-Pro told the Raiders that he prefers to be traded.

Naturally, teams should be interested, and the Cleveland Browns could very well be in the mix.

On Tuesday evening, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer stated that "the Browns will likely inquire about Raiders receiver Davante Adams now that he's requested a trade."

That news comes amid speculation that Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper could be made available with Cleveland struggling at 1-3 and seeming unlikely to mount a serious push for the playoffs. Namely, ESPN's Adam Schefter highlighted Cooper as a potential trade target for the Kansas City Chiefs (h/t Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod).

Ultimately, the Browns don't seem like the most likely destination for Adams, given the team's record, its 2024 prospects and the money owed to him. Cabot wrote the following:

"Would it make sense for the Browns to acquire Adams? They're 1-3 and will miss the playoffs if they don't turn it around quickly. As it stands, they probably need to go 9-4 the rest of the way for a legitimate shot. Would Adams be enough to get them back on track? He's owed $13.5 million of his $17.5 million salary and bonuses this season, and is under contract at $35.6 million next year and $36.6 million in 2026, but with no guaranteed money in those two final years. The Browns would have to re-do the contract, and it would cost a hefty sum, with Minnesota's Justin Jefferson topping the market at $35 million a year."

Adams is currently out with a hamstring injury that's being called a "week-to-week" ailment. It's conceivable that he's played his last down with the Raiders as the Nov. 5 trade deadline sits five weeks away. Teams are already checking in on him, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Sources: Teams have called the #Raiders today, and Las Vegas has also made calls regarding a potential Davante Adams trade.

I’m told these were considered “routine check-ins” on a developing situation. But this is usually how it all starts… https://t.co/gzftQ0EWeG

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 2, 2024

There are some obvious fits for Adams on the surface.

The New York Jets would mark a reunion with his ex-teammate in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers. The two were successful in Green Bay and could easily reignite that in New York, which has struggled on offense through four games (21st in scoring).

The Pittsburgh Steelers, who were deep into talks with the San Francisco 49ers to trade for wideout Brandon Aiyuk before they fell apart, could be another option. Pittsburgh is off to a 3-1 start and could use another wideout opposite George Pickens to create a solid one-two punch there.

Other teams could logically be in the mix too, such as the Washington Commanders (also starting well at 3-1, could look for another receiver alongside Terry McLaurin) and the Kansas City Chiefs (due to injuries to Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown).

It appears Cleveland could at least look into Adams, although the competition for him could be quite fierce, with other teams seemingly offering better fits at this time.

Nick Chubb could be back on the field soon.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said the team is opening up the practice window for the star running back, meaning he could make his return from a knee injury in the coming weeks.

Chubb has missed the first four games of the year while on the physically unable to perform list.

Stefanski later confirmed that Chubb is expected to return to practice on Wednesday.

"He's working very hard, natural progression is for him to start practicing, he's ready to do that," Stefanski said. "We'll see how he goes from there. But really not focused much further past Wednesday."

.@NickChubb is expected to return to practice this Wednesday pic.twitter.com/iNSvbyFr4E

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 30, 2024

Chubb suffered a devastating knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season and has not seen the field since. He underwent a pair of surgeries on his left knee to repair multiple torn ligaments following the injury.

In his last fully healthy season, Chubb was one of the best running backs in the league. He had the third-most rushing yards in the NFL with 1,525 along with 12 touchdowns. He notched four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards from 2019 to 2022.

Chubb's return couldn't come at a better time for the Browns, who have struggled on offense through four games this year. Cleveland has collected just 246.3 total yards per game, the second-worst mark in the league, and has produced just 16.5 points per game.

Jerome Ford, the Browns' current starting running back, has just 203 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Cleveland's offensive struggles have led to a 1-3 start and the Browns will welcome Chubb back to the field with open arms whenever he is available.