On their second day of training camp, the Cleveland Browns are already dealing with a plethora of injuries to their wide receiving core.
Star receiver Amari Cooper had to leave Sunday’s practice early due to a “minor tweak,” as he is day to day on the team’s unofficial injury report. General manager Andrew Berry confirmed it was a minor tweak but did say it was unrelated to the core muscle surgery Cooper underwent earlier this offseason.
According to Mary Kay Cabot, Browns beat writer, he spent much of Sunday afternoon in the therapy pool within the Browns’ temporary West Virginia facilities after telling reporters on Saturday that his previous surgery wouldn’t hamper his training camp appearance. Berry also declined to say where the tweak was or how Cooper suffered the injury.
The former Dallas wideout dealt with injuries his first year in Cleveland, as he had over 1,000 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns for the Browns in 2022. The four-time Pro-Bowler was traded to the Browns back in March 2022 for a 2022 fifth-round pick essentially, as the Cowboys swapped sixth-round picks with Cleveland. That fifth-rounder turned out to be offensive tackle Matt Waletzko from the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cooper being day-to-day is only concerning with the timing, as the four other receivers on the roster are battling their injuries. That includes free-agent speedsters Jakeem Grant (ruptured Achilles) and Marquise Goodwin, who recently found out that he has blood clots in his legs and lungs.
Other young depth players fighting for a roster spot like Anthony Schwartz (Non-Football Injury list for hamstring injury) and Michael Woods, who is also coming back from an Achilles injury, are also out for the time being.
As of now, 24-year-old Donovan Peoples-Jones and offseason trade addition Elijah Moore are fighting for the top spot at receiver. DPJ will look to take another step forward from last season as the number two, amassing 839 yards in 2022. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, the former sixth-round pick from Michigan in the 2020 NFL Draft will have to prove it even more to earn that payday.
Moore, 23, could be the favorite to step right in as a potential starter, as the former New York Jet was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. In March 2023, the Browns sent a second-round pick in 2023 for a third in 2023 and the former Ole Miss pass catcher. He certainly has the pedigree to live up to the potential as a former second-rounder, or at least can thrive in the slot to start.
The third-round pick acquired in the Moore trade, from the Jets, allowed the Browns to select former Tennessee receiver Cedric Tillman of this past NFL Draft. The 23-year-old rookie will look to make an impact early, as he can compete on the outside if Cooper misses even more time. Not to mention Brown’s former third-round pick from last year’s draft David Bell, as he didn’t get many chances to start while not making a big impact on the field.
Even with a seemingly loaded wide receiver core on paper, health could be an issue for them entering the 2023 season. With Cleveland looking to lean more towards passing compared to previous years, the Browns will need more from their younger pass catchers if they want to compete in the AFC North.
