Heavy turnover featured in 53-man roster

The Browns trimmed their roster to 53 on Sept. 1 with more changes sure to come when waiver claims are awarded around 1 p.m. Sept. 2.

Seven players cut were with the Browns last season. That group includes guard Spencer Drango, defensive end Nate Orchard, defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, running back Matthew Dayes, fullback Dan Vitale (waived injured), linebacker B.J. Bello, and defensive back Mike Jordan.

Twenty-eight players are new to the Browns — 16 on offense and 12 on defense.

Derrick Willies, signed by the Browns as an undrafted rookie in May, was one of six wide receivers to make the roster. So did wide receiver Damion Ratley, a sixth-round pick from Texas A&M.

The Browns kept tight end Seth DeValve and waived tight end Devon Cajuste.

Simeon Thomas, a defensive back drafted in the sixth round, was the only Browns 2018 draft pick waived on Sept. 1.

Punter Justin Vogel was cut, meaning incumbent Britton Colquitt won a close battle for that position.

General manager John Dorsey has the final say on the roster, but on Aug. 31 head coach Hue Jackson said he and Dorsey worked together making the decisions.

“I feel very good that John and I have great conversations about our football team and about the players,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to say ‘more energized.’ This is what you do in football. I am just thankful that John is here, along with the rest of his staff and with the staff that I have. I think everybody is understanding what the sense of urgency is to get the organization turned around and to put the best players on the football team.”

Dorsey kept 25 players on offense, 25 on defense and Colquitt, kicker Zane Gonzalez and long snapper Charley Hughlett as specialists.

Here is the roster breakdown:

Offense — Quarterbacks (three): Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield, Drew Stanton; running backs (three): Carlos Hyde, Duke Johnson, Nick Chubb; wide receivers (six): Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, Rashard Higgins, Damion Ratley, Derrick Willies, Josh Gordon; tight ends (four): David Njoku, Darren Fells, Orson Charles, Seth DeValve; offensive linemen (9): Joel Bitonio, Austin Corbett, JC Tretter, Kevin Zeitler, Chris Hubbard, Desmond Harrison, Earl Watford, Austin Reiter, Greg Robinson.

Corbett, Hubbard, Harrison, Watford and Robinson are all new to the offensive line.

Defense — Defensive linemen (nine): Myles Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah, Chris Smith, Carl Nassib, Chad Thomas, Larry Ogunjobi, Jamie Meder, Trevon Coley, Devaroe Lawrence; linebackers (six): Christian Kirksey, Jamie Collins, Joe Schobert, Genard Avery, James Burgess, Jermaine Grace; defensive backs (10): Denzel Ward, Terrance Mitchell, T.J. Carrie, E.J. Gaines, Denzel Rice, Jeremiah McKinnon, Jabrill Peppers, Damarious Randall, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Derrick Kindred

Ward, Mitchell, Carrie, Gaines, Rice, McKinnon and Randall are new to the Browns secondary.

RON SCHWANE — ASSOCIATED PRESS Damion Ratley catches a pass during practice Aug. 27 in Berea.