The Cleveland Browns continue to make small moves to improve their roster, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
On Tuesday, November 28, Scott Petrak of Browns Zone reported Cleveland’s most recent roster changes, noting the swapping out of running backs on the team’s practice squad.
“#Browns re-sign RB John Kelly Jr. to practice squad, release RB Kenyan Drake from practice squad,” Petrak said in a tweet. “CB Thomas Graham Jr. waived from IR.”
In John Kelly Jr., the Browns prefer familiarity over experience.
Kelly has been on and off Cleveland’s practice squad multiple times this season. He was a preseason mainstay and has appeared in five games for the Browns in the last two years. Kelly played 43 regular-season special-teams snaps in Cleveland between 2021-22 and one offensive snap, according to Pro Football Reference.
After hosting a workout for the former Baltimore Ravens running back the week before, the Browns signed Drake on October 31 — the NFL’s trade deadline. Drake has a more extensive NFL resume than Kelly, having appeared in 103 games and starting 44 of them during his eight-year career. Drake has 3,866 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in that time.
Kelly, 27, is two years younger than Drake and has more experience in the Browns offense and locker room, which likely influenced the team’s decision to return to its previous roster structure.
The Browns require a viable replacement for third-string running back and kick returner Pierre Strong Jr.
The Browns’ roster moves on Tuesday were minor, though Kelly’s addition could be significant down the stretch run in a couple of ways.
Starter and second-year running back Jerome Ford has played in all 11 of Cleveland’s games in 2023, despite injuries that could have kept him out. Backup Kareem Hunt has also dealt with injuries since rejoining the team after Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Pierre Strong Jr. is the Browns’ third-string running back and has performed admirably in that role, averaging 4.4 yards per carry on 35 attempts. However, if any of Cleveland’s top three running backs are injured, the team will require a capable replacement, as that player is likely to see some snaps based on Strong’s offensive usage to date.
Strong also serves as the primary kickoff returner for the Browns. If he is out for an extended period of time, Cleveland will need someone to fill in, and Kelly is a potential option in that regard, despite the fact that he has never been a regular return man in his NFL career.
Ford fielded kickoffs last season but was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury during a return against the Atlanta Falcons. Cleveland can’t risk the health of its starting running back on special teams, so the No. 3 running back and that player’s backup on the practice squad are both fairly important positions on the roster.
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