Amidst speculation that the Browns could move on from wideout Jarvis Landry, the veteran made his stance on the matter clear on Tuesday. In a trio of tweets, he updated his injury status, while publicly stating his intention of remaining with Cleveland.
“I came back to play in the best shape of my life,” Landry wrote. However, he suffered an MCL sprain in Week 2, which landed him on IR. He then “came back way too early and ended up staying hurt the entire season.” That injury, amongst others, limited the 29-year-old to 12 games in 2021. He recorded career-lows in catches (52), yards (570) and touchdowns (two) in what was a disappointing campaign for the Browns’ offense as a whole.
After the team was eliminated from playoff contention in January, questions arose regarding what the team would do to handle the five-time Pro Bowler’s contract, which has one year left on it. His 2022 cap hit is scheduled to be roughly $16.4M, so a restructure could be a viable option. However, the Browns would only be saddled with $1.5M of dead money if they cut Landry, who might welcome a fresh start after a down season and the messy departure of his close friend Odell Beckham Jr.
Landry further explained that his injuries were the reason for him missing media availability, which was another cause of speculation his days in Cleveland were numbered. However, Landry states that “I have put the ball in [the Browns’] court by telling them I would like to stay.” His presence would certainly help a WR corps which is lacking established production, although the team could try to start fresh at the position this offseason.
In that case, according to Landry, “I’m confident enough in myself to be a better healthy me this year and moving forward to helping do my part in winning a championship elsewhere.” What the team ultimately decides with him will certainly be one of the more intriguing storylines in Cleveland in the coming weeks.
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