Harrison returns at safety for Cleveland
Defensive backfifield gets boost; Richardson to return to D line, too.
Browns safetyRonnieHarrison was designated to return from injured reserve and participated in practice Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Harrison took part in individual drills in the portion of practice open to the media.
A third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Harrison was traded on Sept. 3, sent to Cleveland for a 2021 fififth- round pick. The Browns needed help after losing second-round draft choice Grant Delpit to a season-ending Achilles injury.
In hismuch-anticipated return to Jacksonville for aNov. 29 game, Harrison suffered a shoulder injury on the fifirst play and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 1. He missed the required three games.
Innine gameswithsix starts for the Browns, Harrison totaled 31 tackles, six passes defensed, one interception and a touchdown.
The Browns also signed guard Michael Dunn to the active roster from the practice squad. In Sunday’s road victory over the NewYork Giants, the Browns lost
offensive lineman ChrisHubbard to a knee injury that will require surgery.
Richardson expected to play vs. Jets
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson didn’t practice Wednesday with the Browns due to the neck injury he suffered in Sunday night’s 20-6win over the NewYork Giants.
But the good news for the Browns (10-4) is coachKevin Stefanski said on Zoom he expects Richardson to play Sunday on the road against the New York Jets (1-13).
In addition to Richardson, linebacker Malcolm Smith (hamstring) and right guard Wyatt Teller (ankle) also sat out Wednesday.
On Monday, Stefanski revealed Teller is likely to miss his second consecutive game by sitting out against the Jets. Stefanski said Teller would be replaced in the starting lineup by rookie fifth-round draft pick Nick Harris, who filled in against
the Giants afterHubbard suffered a season-ending knee injury on the offense’s second play.
Starting f ree safety Andrew Sendejo participated
in practice Wednesday after sitting out against the Giants (5-9) with a concussion.
Richardson suffered the neck injury with 7:44 left in the third quarter against the Giants, left the game and never returned.
The Jets drafted Richardson 13th overall in 2013, when he became the NFL DefensiveRookie of theYear.
Last year, the Jets drafted defensive tackle Quinnen Williams third overall. He’s one of their best players, but he won’t face the Browns because he’s dealing with a neck injury and a concussion, and Jets coach Adam Gase told New York reporters he thinks Williams is done for the season.
The absence of Williams should allow Harris’ first career start to be at least a little smoother than itwould have been otherwise.
Richardson is ranked fifth among Browns players with 54 tackles this season. He’s third on the team with 4½ sacks. He has tallied three passes defensed anda forced fumbles.
Williams leads the Jets with seven sacks this season, and he’s ranked fifth on the club with 55 tackles. He has compiled three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.