Browns Cut Ties With Wide Receiver After Minicamp

At least one Cleveland Browns receiver will not be making it to training camp.

The Browns have officially waived rookie pass-catcher Ja’Seem Reed from injured reserve, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.

Reed signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in May, but his opportunity was cut short when he landed on injured reserve just days later due to an undisclosed injury.

Reed, a 6-foot-1 wide receiver out of San Diego, had a productive college career, recording 155 receptions for 2,103 yards and 16 touchdowns over four seasons. Now focused on recovery, Reed will aim to get healthy and pursue another chance in the league.

Browns Sorting Out WR Depth Chart

Reed was likely a long shot to make the roster as an undrafted free agent. But he had some room to make some noise with the Browns as they sort out their wide receiver depth.

After a Pro Bowl campaign, Jerry Jeudy will be the No. 1 option for the Browns. However, beyond Jeudy, the Browns lack proven depth.

Cedric Tillman, Diontae Johnson, David Bell, DeAndre Carter and Michael Woods II will be in the mix for Cleveland. And one player who has turned heads this offseason is rookie Jamari Thrash, a fifth-round pick in 2024.

“He’s had a really strong spring,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said during minicamp. “He is here all the time working on his body. Very intelligent player, can line up in multiple positions, which I think is valuable. And then he showed up, he’s caught the ball well and you know the quarterbacks like how he gets open. He finds a way to get open vs. zone, vs. man.”

Trash played in nine games last season and saw limited time on the field. He notched just three catches for 22 yards.

Diontae Johnson Provides Upside for Browns

Johnson is the most intriguing name in the wide receiver room. The Browns signed him this offseason, bringing in the polarizing former Pro Bowler on a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum ($1.17 million).

Johnson was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Carolina Panthers in March 2024. He appeared in seven games for Carolina before being dealt to the Baltimore Ravens.

After refusing to enter a game, Johnson was released by the Ravens. He was briefly claimed by the Houston Texans before being let go again. Johnson finished the season with 33 catches for 375 yards and three touchdowns — 30 of those receptions came during his time with the Panthers.

Johnson is eager to put the rough “narrative” behind him and take advantage of a fresh start with the Browns.

“I don’t want to speak on a lot of stuff,” Johnson said. “Everybody’s going to have their opinions, you know what I’m saying? So at the end of the day, I’m the only one in that room that really know what’s going on. They’re entitled to their own opinion, so I can only go off of what I know and then try to go off what I put out there and my best effort. But like I said, last year is last year. I’m trying to change that narrative and move the right way and keep going.”

The Browns will gather for training camp in July before facing the Carolina Panthers in their preseason opener on Aug. 8.