Browns designate key defensive player for return

Entering the playoffs with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked total defense, the Browns will hope to have one of their injured starters back for their Texans matchup.

They designated Grant Delpit to return from IR on Wednesday. The fourth-year safety has missed the past four games due to a groin injury. While Cleveland has seen several starters suffer season-ending injuries on the offensive side, Jim Schwartz‘s unit has not seen his troops suffer as many setbacks. The team had targeted a playoff return for Delpit.

The Browns and Delpit reached a rare gameday extension agreement; at least the news came out about the deal hours before the team’s Week 14 game. But Delpit sustained the injury during that contest. He agreed to a three-year, $36M extension, which came with $14.9M fully guaranteed.

A 2020 second-round pick, Delpit has come a long way since an Achilles tear sidelined him for his entire rookie season. The LSU product has become a key piece, working as a three-year starter. Despite the four-game hiatus, Delpit sits second on the team with 80 tackles this season. Pro Football Focus slots Delpit just outside the top 30 among safeties, giving him a better mark for his coverage work compared to run defense.

While the Browns have not seen their defense battered compared to what has happened to their offense, the team did lose Rodney McLeod for the season. However, rookie UDFA Ronnie Hickman — a starter during Delpit’s absence — has shown flashes early. Hickman notched a pick-six against the Jets in Week 17 and, albeit on a limited snap count, finished his NFL debut as PFF’s No. 6-ranked safety. He joins Delpit and Juan Thornhill on Cleveland’s defensive back line.

Thornhill signed a three-year, $21M deal in free agency, and Delpit’s subsequent accord locks in both Browns starting safeties through at least the 2025 season. The team can devote resources elsewhere come March as a result of keeping Delpit off the 2024 market.