The Cleveland Browns have completed their two gameday elevations from the practice squad prior to departing to Baltimore for their Week 10 divisional matchup.
Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. and cornerback A.J. Green III will join the Browns on the trip and provide depth at their respective positions. Watkins will join the active roster after receivers David Bell (knee) and Marquise Goodwin (concussion) were both ruled out for Sunday. Green joins after cornerback Greg Newsome II (groin) was ruled questionable.
Green’s elevation suggests Newsome, who has started all but two games this year and didn’t play last week against the Cardinals, will be a game-time decision.
One other notable aspect of the elevations is that no offensive linemen were called up, which means the Browns will deploy some combination of James Hudson III, Geron Christian and Leroy Watson at both tackle positions. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right tackle Dawand Jones will both miss the game with injuries, so the Browns’ tackle depth will be tested in a big way against a Ravens defense that leads the league in sacks.
Watkins would be making his NFL debut if he’s active. After beginning 2023 with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL, Watkins was the biggest preseason success story for the Browns after he led the team in receiving yards in each of their first three preseason games, but he was still waived before 53-man rosters were finalized and then re-signed to the practice squad.
Green has played 31 games with the Browns since joining Cleveland as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He’s logged two career interceptions, seven pass breakups and 39 tackles.
More must-reads: