Browns surprisingly cut preseason star
The Browns have begun making roster cuts ahead of the 4 p.m. deadline on Tuesday when teams must have their rosters to 53 players, and they made a shocking release of one of the preseason's best players.
Cleveland is reportedly cutting WR Austin Watkins, who had 15 catches for a preseason league-leading 245 yards and two touchdowns.
Watkins, a 2021 undrafted free agent, signed with the Browns in July and certainly took advantage of every opportunity he received.
However, it wasn't enough in a crowded wide receiver room which includes Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Marquise Goodwin, Cedric Tillman and David Bell.
Cleveland is likely hoping he makes it through waivers so the team can add him to the practice squad, but that seems unlikely after breaking out in the preseason.
Even if Watkins were to make it through waivers and be added to the Browns' practice squad, he could still be signed to another team's 53-man roster at any time.
Watkins is surely hoping that chance soon comes after jumping around rosters in the NFL and USFL the past couple of years.
Fans may be upset by the decision to part ways with the preseason star, but Cleveland has already invested a lot into the position, trading for Cooper and Moore and drafting Bell and Tillman the past two offseasons.
So, it makes sense that the team wants to see what this group is made of in the regular season. If it underwhelms and the Browns can keep Watkins stashed, he could certainly earn another opportunity to be a part of their 53-man roster.
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