QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Sun 8/27/23 3:32 PM

The Browns placed Grant (knee) on injured reserve by the Browns on Sunday.
EDGE Analysis
Grant suffered a ruptured right patellar tendon during Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs. He was set to serve as the Browns' top kick returner in 2023, but now that he's out for the season, Cleveland will have to look elsewhere to fill those duties.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Sun 8/27/23 2:03 PM

Grant suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs and is out for the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Grant was expected to be Cleveland's return man this season, but instead, the veteran wideout will need to spend the 2023 campaign recovering. The Browns will now likely turn to Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jerome Ford to handle those duties.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Sat 8/26/23 5:54 PM

Grant sustained a potential broken patella in his knee during Saturday's 33-32 preseason loss to the Chiefs, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
EDGE Analysis
Grant is slated to undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine whether his patella is possibly broken or torn, as a torn patella could sideline him for the entire 2023 campaign. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski also expressed Saturday that he feels horrible for Grant, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, likely indicating that this injury will sideline him for an extended period of time either way. The 5-foot-7 slot receiver hasn't made much of an impact in the passing game during his career, but he has accumulated two kick-return touchdowns and four punt-return touchdowns over the past six seasons. Should Grant miss significant playing time, Donovan Peoples-Jones could step up as the Browns' primary punt returner while Jerome Ford, who is questionable for Week 1 with a hamstring injury, would likely take over kick-return duties.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Sat 8/26/23 1:20 PM

Grant exited Saturday's preseason finale after suffering an apparent leg injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
EDGE Analysis
The Browns' team doctors had to put an air cast on Grant following the injury, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network, which indicates this is a serious issue. Aside from an 11-game stint with the Bears in 2021, the veteran returner has spent most of his six-year career in Miami. He's been working on a fresh start in Cleveland and had been expected to return both kicks and punts for the team before suffering this injury. It remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Thu 8/24/23 8:14 AM

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Grant will return kickoffs and punts during Saturday's preseason game against the Chiefs, Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
EDGE Analysis
Grant has not yet appeared in any of the Browns' preseason games while he was brought along slowly from an Achilles' injury. Despite not appearing in game action, Grant has been a full practice participant and often taken the first (and sometimes only) reps as the returner. Stefanski said he doesn't need to see Grant on offense before making a roster decision, so it appears that Grant will secure a roster spot heading into the regular season, if he comes out of Saturday's game in good health. The back end of the wideout depth chart remains murky in terms of health and the number of wideouts the team plans to keep. Marquise Goodwin (illness), Jaelon Darden (leg) and Anthony Schwartz (hamstring) are iffy heading into Saturday's preseason finale.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Tue 8/8/23 8:06 AM

Grant (Achilles) made his first appearance during full-team drills Monday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
It's a step forward for Grant, who had been limited to fielding kickoffs and punts and focused on individual drills. He's not guaranteed a roster spot, but if Grant makes enough progress before roster cuts, he'll put himself in position to make the team and win either or both of the return jobs. Fellow wideout Jaelon Darden is a return-game option as well, but he's missed the last five practices with a leg injury.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Fri 8/4/23 8:39 AM

Grant did not play in Thursday's preseason game against the Jets and remains limited at practice as he tries to return from a torn Achilles tendon, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Grant has been first in line at kick-return drills but has yet to practice at full speed. The Browns signed him in 2022 to reform the return game, but Grant is not a lock for a roster spot until he can work at full health and compete in games. Hassan Hall handled the return duties Thursday, but the role is expected to be handled by Grant, Jerome Ford or Jaelon Darden (leg).

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Tue 8/1/23 8:34 AM

Grant is listed as the top punt and kickoff returner on the unofficial depth chart for Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Jets, the Browns' official site reports.
EDGE Analysis
The 30-year-old Grant is working his way back from a second ruptured Achilles. Another receiver with return experience, Jaelon Darden, is third on the depth chart at each return spot. The Browns may eventually use position regulars Jerome Ford and Donovan Peoples-Jones as kickoff and punt returners, respectively, but they'll get a look at both Grant and Darden during preseason games. Additionally, with Marquise Goodwin on the active/non-football illness list, both wideouts will get work on offense. Grant is listed third at one wideout position behind Elijah Moore and rookie Cedric Tillman.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Tue 7/25/23 7:09 PM

Grant (Achilles) participated in Tuesday's practice and took his most reps to date, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.
EDGE Analysis
Grant, who sustained a torn Achilles last year during training camp, participated in both kick and punt return drills. With Marquise Goodwin (illness) on the active/non-football illness list, Grant could receive early opportunities in camp and preseason games. He and Jaelon Darden, who also participated in return drills Tuesday, are in the mix for what appears to be the same role, that of a fifth or sixth receiver that can also help in the return game.

QJakeem Grant
WR CLE (5)
Thu 4/13/23 4:05 PM

Grant (Achilles) expects to be ready for the start of training camp, according to Noah Weiskopf of Browns Digest.
EDGE Analysis
"Absolutely, 100 percent," Grant said when asked if he'll be ready for camp. The 30-year-old signed a three-year, $10 million deal with Cleveland last offseason but suffered a torn Achilles in training camp and missed all of 2022. At the end of March, Grant estimated he was at "85-90 percent" and suggested he could even get on the field for OTAs. Grant is unlikely to play a big role on offense behind Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Donovan Peoples-Jones, but he should be the favorite for returner duties.