Sunday’s report that quarterback Dillon Gabriel would make the 53-man roster in Cleveland was incorrect, but he has not been waived by the Browns. The Browns announced that Gabriel has been placed on injured reserve on Sunday. A back injury is cited as the reason for the move, although there was no sign of an issue when Gabriel went 12-of-15 for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the preseason finale. Deshaun Watson will start at quarterback for the Browns in Week 1. Shedeur Sanders and rookie Taylen Green are also on the 53-man roster with Gabriel able to return after four games. The Browns also announced tight end Joe Royer will remain on the non-football injury list. He will also have to miss at least four games. The Browns released cornerback Myles Bryant, defensive tackle Sam Kamara, and cornerback D’Angelo Ross. They waived defensive tackles Travis Bell, Elijah Chatman, and Tyreak Sapp; running backs Davon Booth and Ahmani Marshall; offensive linemen Kinsley Eguakun and K.T. Leveston; defensive ends Logan Fano and Khordae Sydnor; wide receivers Luke Floriea, Gage Larvadain, and Kole Wilson; linebackers Edefuan Ulofoshio and Nathaniel Watson; punter Wes Pahl; and safety Zion Washington
Browns DE a ‘beast’ but needs to add variety to his toolbox (Thomas Moore) – Jared Verse scores favorably in ESPN polling of the game’s top edge rushers for the 2026 season. Browns TE Joe Royer can be more than just a fifth-round draft pick (Barry Shuck) – The Cleveland Browns new offense under Todd Monken will need plenty of tight ends, Joe Royer could break out as a rookie. Browns roster: WR depth chart and expectations (Thomas Moore) – Cleveland added a pair of promising rookies in the draft, so what does the WR depth chart look like for 2026? Greg Pruitt was so much to watch – an earlier version of Eric Metcalf. And those tearaway jerseys ! Shedeur Sanders focused on ‘being the best quarterback in the world’ (Beacon Journal) – The Browns’ Berea headquarters isn’t devoid of players during February and March. There’s always a handful who stay in the area to work out or to rehab injuries. How will veteran receivers fit in pass-catching picture? 15 Browns questions for ’26 (cleveland.com) – A little competition is a good thing. Browns GM Andrew Berry will have to make some difficult roster decisions by the time roster cut-down day arrives, and wide receiver is one of the positions that will require those hard choices. Browns 6-Foot-3 Target Enters Camp in Danger (heavy.com) – Cedric Tillman is running out of time to prove he can be more than a promising prospect in the Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver room. Answering the Browns’ biggest questions for the 2026 NFL season (Browns Wire) – As the Cleveland Browns continue to prepare for the 2026 NFL season, many questions surround the struggling franchise heading into its Week One matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars . Ty Simpson soaking in everything Rams’ QB room has to offer (ESPN) – Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson said the team’s offseason program made him feel like he was a college freshman again learning the playbook. The Chicago Bears lived a charmed life in 2025. Can it continue? (The Athletic) – Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles had a feeling this spring, confident that his team is built to last. Mac Jones recalls ‘crazy journey’ to 49ers after being passed over during 2021 NFL Draft (NFL.com) – Mac Jones thought he might end up in San Francisco during the 2021 NFL Draft. It took four more years for him to actually become a Niner
This is a Cleveland Browns site, but that does not mean we can’t take the occasional small detour when it is called for, and today is one of those days. The U.S. Men’s team is back in action tonight in a World Cup round-of-16 meeting with Belgium, a rematch of the 2014 game in the knockout round that saw the U.S. lose, 2-1, in extra time. The biggest news of the day is that Folarin Balogun, who scored twice in the opening game against Paraguay and again against Bosnia in the round-of-32 game, will reportedly play after FIFA delayed the one-game suspension for the red card he was given during the Bosnia game for a year . Balogun was originally slated to miss the game because of an automatic suspension, but that appears to be no more. It is a huge move and should give the U.S. a nice boost in what should be a manic atmosphere tonight in Seattle . OK, detour over. Let’s get on with today’s edition of the Daily Dawg Chow. Browns could trade this QB. Unless, of course, they don’t (Thomas Moore) – The rumors never stop swirling around Shedeur Sanders. Which is tiresome, but also not of his doing. LeBron might return to the Cavs. Which Browns reunion do you want to see by 2027? (Jared Mueller) – Another LeBron James return to Cleveland has us wondering, would Cleveland Browns fans like Baker, Chubb, Njoku returns? Browns 2020 roster: A look back at GM Andrew Berry’s 1st 53-man roster (Jared Mueller) – A look back at Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry’s first 53-man roster, one that won 11 games. Evaluating the Browns’ tight ends ahead of the 2026 season (clevelandbrowns.com) – The Browns addressed a need for depth at tight end during the offseason, first signing Jack Stoll , re-signing Blake Whiteheart , and then drafting two rookie tight ends in Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan. They also tendered Brenden Bates , bringing him back for the 2026 season. Joe Thomas defends Shedeur Sanders as Cowboys pressure Browns on trade decision (The Sporting News) – Veteran offensive lineman Joe Thomas has come out firmly against moving Shedeur Sanders out of Cleveland, arguing the Browns would be making a reckless decision by shipping him elsewhere before his development runs its course. “I Would Never Be Happy”: Shedeur Sanders Rejects Comparing Himself to Anyone Amid Browns QB Battle (Yahoo Sports) – Quarterback competitions often invite endless comparisons. Take Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as an example, a rivalry that spanned about 15 years. However, as Shedeur Sanders finds himself in a QB1 battle against Deshaun Watson , he isn’t buying into the narrative and external expectations for one particular reason: his happiness. Emmitt Smith manifested rushing record long before first SB TD (ESPN) – Emmitt Smith had a way of speaking things into existence. Before he even played a game for the Dallas Cowboys , he told Michael Irvin he would become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher by the time his career was finished. Ballhawk Nahshon Wright: No Jets interceptions in 2025 ‘hasn’t been brought up at all’ (NFL.com) – Nahshon Wright is coming off a career year, one in which he helped a takeaway-reliant Chicago Bears defense aid in winning the NFC North. How rare are gap years between college and the NFL? Brendan Sorsby has few parallels (The Athletic) – The public statement by Brendan Sorsby and an internal memo from the NFL put an end to speculation about where the talented quarterback will play this season after a gambling investigation and weeks of legal drama. The answer is: nowhere
The Browns have signed second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to his four-year rookie deal, the team announced. Cleveland has now signed nine of its 10 draft picks, with only first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion remaining unsigned. The Browns drafted McNeil-Warren with the 58th overall pick out of Toledo. He appeared in 53 career games with 14 starts at Toledo in his four collegiate seasons. McNeil-Warren played in all 13 games in 2025, recording 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and two interceptions, while earning third-team AP All-America honors. Browns first-round offensive tackle Spencer Fano, second-round wide receiver Denzel Boston, third-round tackle Austin Barber, fifth-round center Parker Brailsford, fifth-round linebacker Justin Jefferson, fifth-round tight end Joe Royer, sixth-round quarterback Taylen Green and seventh-round tight end Carsen Ryan previously signed
The Cleveland Browns have signed eight of their ten draft picks, including first-round offensive tackle Spencer Fano, to their rookie contracts. Other signed draft picks include wide receiver Denzel Boston, tackle Austin Barber, center Parker Brailsford, linebacker Justin Jefferson, tight ends Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan, and quarterback Taylen Green. Wide receiver KC Concepcion and safety Emmaneul McNeil-Warren remain unsigned. The team also added 12 undrafted free agents, including Spencer's brother, defensive end Logan Fano, along with running backs Davon Booth and TJ Harden, among others
The Browns selected Royer in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 170th overall. After starting his career at Ohio State and spending four years with the Buckeyes, Royer transferred to Cincinnati prior to 2024 and racked up a combined 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Bearcats. Royer sports sound hands and an ability to make things happen after the catch (8.9 YAC/reception in 2025), and he's a solid blocker in the run game. However, he isn't blessed with the top-tier athleticism for the position. Royer joins a tight end room that cut David Njoku loose this offseason, leaving Jack Stoll as the No. 2 option at tight end. Royer will likely slot in as a depth option for now with potential to move up the depth chart, depending on how he fares in camp
