The Cleveland Browns are hoping to get healthy at just the right time this season. Coming out of their bye week and into the final five weeks of the year, Cleveland needs everyone they can to try to make a late-season push for the playoffs.
Monday, the team designated linebacker Jacob Phillips for return from the injured reserve. Phillips, the team’s third-round pick last year, hurt his bicep during training camp. While initially thought to be season-ending, the team kept Phillips on their initial 53-man roster with the hopes he could return this season.
By designating him for return, the Browns now have three weeks to see Phillips in practice and either activate him to the 53-man roster or place him on injured reserve for the rest of the year.
While his play as a rookie was limited by a knee issue, the former LSU linebacker showed the explosion that led to this drafting in the third round. Phillips was competing for a starting spot at the time of his injury and would compete to join Anthony Walker and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah among the team’s primary linebackers.
Phillips could be activated as early as this week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. When he is activated, the team would have to open a roster spot by moving on from a player currently active.
