Cleveland Browns Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Browns are agreed to a three-year deal with former Texans EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The pact could be worth as much as $22 million. A fifth-round pick of the Rams back in 2018, Okoronkwo finally got the first eight starts of his career last year in Houston. He supplied 5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and 11 QB hits while playing 44% of the snaps. Cleveland clearly believes there's more coming in Okoronkwo's age-28 season (and beyond). The money indicates he's expected to start opposite EDGE Myles Garrett, which can't hurt. Still Okoronkwo sports just a 45th-percentile speed score for the position and might have a limited playing-time ceiling because of his size (just 253 pounds). He's a potential late-round IDP option for 2023 fantasy football drafts. But we're not overly excited about his upside.

The Browns are hiring longtime NFL coach Jim Schwartz to run their defense. Cleveland fired DC Joe Woods after a season in which they fell from 5th in yards allowed, 13th in scoring defense and 11th in Football Outsiders DVOA to 14th, 20th and 23rd, respectively. Schwartz last coordinated the Eagles' defense from 2016-20. Overall, he has spent 19 years as DC (Titans, Bills and Eagles) or HC (Lions) in the NFL. Schwartz's defenses have tended to rank better against the run than the pass and have not proved especially helpful to LB tackle totals. He has generally focused on generating pressure with his front 4, often lining up edge players in a "wide 9" formation, well outside the OTs. We'll see about his specific plans for a Cleveland defense with some intriguing talent.

Browns S John Johnson III (thigh) is active for today's game against the Saints. Use him as planned in your IDP lineups.

Browns S John Johnson III (thigh) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Saints. Johnson played through the injury for a portion of last week's win over the Ravens, but he managed just 1 limited practice this week. We'll check his status Saturday morning. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (concussion) is out for the game.

Browns S John Johnson suffered thigh contusion in Saturday's win over the Ravens. He played through it for a portion of the game but sat out the entire 4th quarter. We'll see about Johnson's outlook for Week 16.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is awaiting further testing results on the left foot he injured in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, however, that there's a chance the 2nd-year LB lands on IR. Deion Jones led Browns LBs in playing time against Cincinnati and should be the favorite to do so for however long JOK might be out. Cleveland just lost starter Sione Takitaki to an ACL tear in Week 13. Tony Fields II looks like the next man up behind Jones but played just 16% of snaps vs. the Bengals. We wouldn't be looking to start him in Week 15 IDP lineups.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah hurt his left leg late in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. He's getting an MRI today. "I'll be OK," the LB told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer after the game -- adding "we'll see" after mentioning the MRI.

Browns LB Sione Takitaki suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's win over the Texans. Cleveland on Wednesday placed him on IR and signed veteran LB Reggie Ragland. Tony Fields and Deion Jones worked 3rd and 4th among Cleveland LBs at Houston, trailing Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Takitaki. JOK looks like the only 1 worth considering for IDP lineups right now.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah put in full practices all week and is off the final injury report for Sunday's game against the Bills. He missed the past 2 games with a knee injury but intimated this week that he felt ready to return last week against the Dolphins. LB playing time has varied in Cleveland this season, so it's tough to know who will stay on the field most among JOK, Sione Takitaki and Deion Jones. There's decent tackle upside to any, but the Buffalo matchup has been negative for LB scoring overall. That plus the playing-time uncertainty should have you leaning elsewhere in many close IDP lineup decisions.

The Browns have ruled CB Greg Newsome out for Sunday's game against the Bills after he suffered a concussion in Friday's practice. That should elevate Martin Emerson back to starter status. He ran as the 3rd corner last week but started Cleveland's previous 3 games. Emerson averaged 6.3 total tackles over that span and broke up 4 passes.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. His playing time had already been shaky, so this shouldn't carry too much IDP impact. It does solidify Deion Jones and Sione Takitaki as the team's top 2 LBs for the game. See where they stand in our Week 10 IDP rankings.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (knee) is inactive for tonight’s game against the Bengals. That likely leaves Sione Takitaki as the #2 LB to Deion Jones. CB Greg Newsome II (oblique) and CB Greedy Williams (illness) are active

Browns LB Jeremiah Owes-Koramoah (knee) is questionable for Monday night's game against the Bengals. He missed the entire practice week and is impossible to trust, given the late kickoff. CB Denzel Ward (concussion) has been ruled out for the 3rd straight game. Cleveland also might be without starting CB Greg Newsome II (oblique) and last week's #3 CB, Greedy Williams (illness). Both are questionable. We'll check their statuses Monday.

Browns EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) is active for today's game against the Ravens.

The Browns have activated LB Deion Jones (shoulder) from IR. He's expected to make his 1st appearance with his new team Sunday against the Ravens. It's not yet clear what his role will be, though, in a LB corps that has been evolving since Anthony Walker Jr. went down.

The Browns have ruled CB Denzel Ward (concussion) out for Sunday's game against the Ravens. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) is questionable. He has played just once since Week 2.

Browns EDGE Myles Garrett missed time at the end of Sunday's loss to the Patriots after aggravating his left-shoulder sprain. "I've been dealing with it since the accident, just trying to manage it and be in the best position to play come Sunday," he said afterward, according to Cleveland.com. "And certain falls, tackles, stuff like that that’s going to aggravate it." Garrett will get further testing on the shoulder Monday, but he says, "I'll be playing next week."

The Browns aren't expected to play newly acquired LB Deion Jones against the Patriots today, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. That clears the path for Jacob Phillips and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to continue leading the position in playing time. We'll look for more on Jones' expected role once he does take the field.