Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Friday that Chubb won't be able to play because of COVID-19 protocols.

The Browns announced on Tuesday that Chubb and backup running back Demetric Felton have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. 

It's unclear if Chubb and/or Felton tested positive for the virus. 

Per ESPN's Jake Trotter, Chubb and Felton are fully vaccinated. They would have needed two negative tests within 24 hours to be eligible to play in Week 10 against the New England Patriots.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Chubb is the featured back in the Browns' run-heavy offense. Through seven games this year, he leads the team with 721 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons.

The Georgia product missed two games earlier this season with a calf injury. He returned and rushed for 61 yards in Cleveland's Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He followed that up with 137 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns are already without running back Kareem Hunt, who is on injured reserve with a calf injury. With both Chubb and Hunt sidelined, Cleveland's main option in the backfield will likely be D'Ernest Johnson.

Johnson filled in for Chubb and Hunt in Week 7 and started Cleveland's win over the Denver Broncos. The USF product rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown in the 17-14 victory.

Chubb's absence doesn't change Cleveland's philosophy. The Browns still rely on their rushing attack to take pressure off of quarterback Baker Mayfield, so Johnson will have ample opportunities to produce until Chubb returns.

Cleveland Browns safety John Johnson III questioned how wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will fit in the Los Angeles Rams' offense.

Beckham, who signed with the Rams after being released by the Browns, will face plenty of competition for targets from Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and Tyler Higbee.

"I don't know how that's going to work," Johnson told reporters Thursday. "... I just feel like they had a good thing going, like a complete offense. From being in L.A., I know for a fact the offense runs through Cooper Kupp. Even in the run game, the pass game, the screen game, it kind of runs through Cooper Kupp. Obviously, Odell's a big name. He's going to want that attention as well. So it'll be interesting."

Beckham generated ample interest on the free-agent market. The Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks were also in contact with the three-time Pro Bowler, per ESPN.

His decision to join the Rams came as a bit of a surprise because of the team's pass-catching depth. Fellow veteran wideout DeSean Jackson recently secured his release from L.A. and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after failing to receive consistent targets.

Johnson, who played for the Rams from 2017 through 2020, said he would have likely picked a team where he'd be higher in the pecking order offensively if in OBJ's position, but he also noted head coach Sean McVay is capable of making it work.

"Coach McVay, he's one of the best doing it. I know he'll find a way to get it done," Johnson said. "But just right off the bat, I'm like I wouldn't really want to go there if I were him, but we'll see how it goes, and I wish him the best."

Beckham's departure from Cleveland came after he recorded just 17 catches for 232 yards and no touchdowns in six appearances this season.

The 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year averaged 96 catches and 1,374 yards across his first three NFL seasons with the New York Giants. He scored 35 TDs in 43 games during that span.

He suffered a fractured ankle during the 2017 season, however, and he's never been able to match his early-career production over the past four years.

Beckham won't be ticketed for a high-target role in Los Angeles barring a rash of injuries, but he moves from the 25th-ranked passing offense in Cleveland to the No. 3 aerial attack in Los Angeles. He also joins one of the league's top Super Bowl contenders.

In addition, since he only signed a one-year contract, he'll be able to go through a more traditional free-agent process during the offseason to find a team where he could play a prominent role.

It's unclear when Beckham will make his Rams debut. If he doesn't play in Monday night's clash with the San Francisco 49ers, he'll have to wait until after the team's Week 11 bye.

Wyatt Teller isn't the only offensive lineman the Cleveland Browns gave a new contract to this week.

Joel Bitonio reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension worth "roughly" $48 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Earlier on Wednesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported there was "positive momentum on a long-term extension" for Joel Bitonio following the Teller deal. Bitonio has been with the Browns since they selected him in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

Bitonio is 30 years old and continues to perform at a high level. He is scheduled for free agency following the 2022 campaign, so Cleveland could look to lock him up for the rest of his prime.

The Nevada product has started 104 games for Cleveland during his career, including every game for the last four seasons. He is on track to do that again in 2021 after starting the first nine games for the 5-4 team.

He is also a three-time Pro Bowler and a force up front.

The offensive line's ability to open up holes is a major reason the Browns have found so much success running the ball with Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Teller (89.8) and Bitonio (88.7) have two of the three highest overall player grades for guards in the league. Keeping them together for the foreseeable future will provide stability and figures to help quarterback Baker Mayfield develop.

Teller is younger at 26 years old, and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported he received a four-year, $56.8 million extension. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com noted he is the second-highest-paid guard in the league on an annual basis at $14.2 million a year.

Next up for the Browns and their impressive offensive line is a game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.                     

Cleveland Browns star Nick Chubb's status for Week 10 is up in the air after the team placed him on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. 

Per ESPN's Jake Trotter, Chubb is vaccinated. League rules permit asymptomatic players to return as long as they return two negative COVID-19 tests 24 hours apart. 

Chubb was setting a blistering pace to open the 2021 season. He had run for 523 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry through Cleveland's first five games.

Then a calf injury forced him to miss Cleveland's 37-14 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6 and its 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 7.

The Browns were down to their third-string running back against Denver after having also placed Kareem Hunt on injured reserve because of a calf problem. That left D'Ernest Johnson as the primary ball-carrier.

Case Keenum also subbed in for Baker Mayfield at quarterback because of Mayfield's nagging shoulder injury.

Chubb was able to return to the lineup in Week 8. The 25-year-old had his best game of the season in Cleveland's Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He racked up 137 yards and two scores on just 14 carries in a 41-16 victory. 

The glut of injuries was emblematic of a year that has fallen short of expectations in Northeast Ohio. The Browns are 5-4 heading into Sunday's game against the New England Patriots that could have serious playoff ramifications. 

New England (5-4) currently owns the No. 7 seed in the AFC based on a tiebreaker advantage over the Kansas City Chiefs and Browns with a better record in conference games. 

Johnson is the only active running back on Cleveland's roster. He ran for 146 yards in his first career NFL start against the Broncos two weeks ago. 

The Cleveland Browns backfield may shift again after the team announced it placed running backs Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

That could mean big things from a fantasy perspective for D'Ernest Johnson, considering Kareem Hunt is still sidelined by a calf injury.

Johnson, who went undrafted in 2018, received his first career NFL start in a Week 7 win over the Denver Broncos while both Chubb and Hunt were out, and he took full advantage of the opportunity.

The University of South Florida product rushed for 146 yards on 22 carries (6.6 YPC) and scored a touchdown. He also added two catches for 22 yards, which helped make him the fourth-ranked fantasy running back for the week in points-per-reception leagues.

The 25-year-old once again possesses top-10 fantasy upside if thrust into the starting role with neither of the Browns' top two backs available. He's proved capable of handling upward of 20 touches, and nobody else in the team's backfield was heavily involved during that Week 7 contest. In the last two weeks, Johnson has carried 12 times for 38 yards and a touchdown as well as catching one pass for seven yards.

Johnson's fantasy value is directly linked to injuries. He spent most of the first five games playing special teams, so he's likely more of a short-term target rather than a building block for the rest of the season, but he'll deserve a spot in starting lineups when in the No. 1 role.

Odell Beckham Jr. is officially a free agent for the first time in his NFL career.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Beckham cleared waivers Tuesday and is now free to sign with any team. The Cleveland Browns waived the three-time Pro Bowl receiver Monday.

Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported Beckham "will take some time and assess the best situation for him with several options still on the table."

The LSU product has already been connected to multiple contenders on Tuesday.

Insider Jordan Schultz reported Beckham "prioritized" the Green Bay Packers as a top destination, while ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted the Seattle Seahawks held "internal discussions" about signing him.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Beckham wanted to join a contender, so look for him to eventually end up on a team in the middle of the playoff picture that could use receiving help.

Beckham will be under the spotlight wherever he signs. His time with the Browns ended with the team dismissing him from practice multiple times and his father criticizing quarterback Baker Mayfield in a video posted to Instagram.

It's likely unrealistic to expect the 29-year-old to produce like he did with the New York Giants, when he went over 1,300 yards in each of his first three seasons. But whichever team signs him will hope for better production than what the Browns received over the past two years.

Beckham appeared in seven games in 2020 before tearing his ACL and finished with 23 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He played six games this season and posted 17 catches for 232 yards and zero touchdowns.

Motivation shouldn't be an issue for Beckham after his split with the Browns. He could help a team win the Super Bowl if he lives up to his potential over the rest of the year.                

Offensive guard Wyatt Teller is reportedly locked in through the 2025 season with the Cleveland Browns.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Teller and Cleveland agreed to a four-year contract extension, while Tom Pelissero of NFL Network noted it is worth $56.8 million. According to Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN, the new deal features $28 million in guaranteed money.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com noted the $14.2 million a year contract makes the Virginia Tech product the second-highest paid guard in the NFL on an annual basis.

Teller started his NFL career on the Buffalo Bills after the AFC East team selected him in the fifth round in the 2018 NFL draft.

However, Buffalo traded him to the Browns prior to the 2019 season. He has started a combined 20 games for Cleveland the past two seasons and has been in the starting lineup for all nine games this year with the team sitting at 5-4.

Teller has been impressive in those nine games with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 89.8 out of 100.

He is also just 26 years old, which is the same age as quarterback Baker Mayfield. Cleveland surely envision him being a key part of the offensive protection up front as Mayfield develops during his prime and made sure he was a part of the team for the foreseeable future with this deal.

Teller previously expressed a desire to stay in Cleveland. Per Cabot, he said: "Your mindset is you want to stay. I don't want to leave. I love my house. I love the city. I love the community. But that's the business side."

It seems as if the business side worked out for him with this news.                 

The Cleveland Browns officially placed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on waivers on Monday, and at least two teams have already determined they won't be putting in a claim for him.

The 0-8 Detroit Lions have the top waiver priority, but head coach Dan Campbell put an end to any speculation that they would attempt to add the three-time Pro Bowler.

"Uh, no," Campbell said Monday when asked if the Lions would claim Beckham.

Meanwhile, New York Giants coach Joe Judge appeared to shut down any chance of his team reuniting with Beckham, telling reporters that he "wouldn’t expect anything" in terms of notable waiver claims.

Beckham starred for the Giants from 2014-18 and established himself as one of the most prolific receivers in the NFL. He recorded four 1,000-yard seasons in five years and had 10 or more receiving touchdowns three times.

This season's group of Giants receivers has failed to impress. Rookie Kadarius Toney leads the team with 352 receiving yards, followed by Sterling Shepard (324) and Kenny Golladay (310). Tight end Evan Engram leads the team with two receiving touchdowns.

Campbell went on to say that he's had discussions with Lions general manager Brad Holmes about claiming players, and he did the same regarding Beckham.

"He was no different. I would just leave it at that," Campbell said. "Look, our ears and our eyes are open to everything. And if there was a certain way to make things work, we’d be open for just about any player if it made sense."

The Lions' decision not to add Beckham is somewhat surprising, as they could use some help on the outside. They cut veteran receiver Breshad Perriman during training camp, while Tyrell Williams suffered a concussion in Week 1 and was released on Friday. They also placed Quintez Cephus on injured reserve after he suffered a broken collarbone.

In three seasons in Cleveland, Beckham did not perform at the level he did while he was in New York. A torn ACL derailed his 2020 season, and he couldn't find a groove when he returned in Week 3 of this year. Beckham has 17 catches on 34 targets for 232 yards and no touchdowns through six games.

If Beckham clears waivers, he will become a free agent and he can sign with any team he chooses.