No Practice Squad Elevations for Browns
For the second consecutive week the Cleveland Browns have declined to call up any players from the practice squad for tonight's game against the Steelers. We will break this down further and explain what it means.
First, one major consideration is that league rules state that a player can only be called up twice for games and revert back to the practice squad without taking up a roster spot. Another factor that must be considered is money. If a player is elevated from the practice squad, he will automatically get a raise for one game and it could be significant.
Let’s take a seven-year NFL veteran as an example. Players make $12k per week while a member of the practice squad but if they are called up they would make one-seventeenth of the annual minimum for that player. In this case that would calculate to $61,764 for that week. These can add up against your salary cap quickly.
The team did lose starting right tackle Jack Conklin for the season in week 1 and signed a veteran to the practice squad with lots of experience. The Browns did sign Michael Dunn from the practice squad to keep the roster at 53 players after placing Conklin on injured reserve.
This does leave them a little thin at offensive tackle during games as James Hudson would be the only backup. If we were to experience to injuries at tackle, Joel Bitonio would most likely have to play there with Dunn replacing him at guard.
At defensive tackle, three players missed practice time with injuries and Siaki Ika wasn't able to practice at all and is officially listed as questionable for tonight. I would expect him to be inactive once again.
Finally in what could be a positive sign for Amari Cooper playing, the team did not elevate either Jaelon Darden or Austin Watkins Jr. So our list of available players tonight will be set at 53 players but the Browns can only dress 48. Here is my best guess at who will be inactive.
DT- Siaki Ika
DE- Isaiah McGuire
CB- Khalef Hailassie
OG- Luke Wypler
S- Ronnie Hickman
